LONGS' ILLUSTRATED EDITION. 




iiBiiiiR ii iiiiiiniiiiil 



j 1 1 1 1 1 u u 1 1 1 1 1 u i u u 1 1 1 1 1 m t m 1 1 1 n i n m 1 1 1 > 



POSTAGE FOUR CHIOS. 



CONTENTS 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

1. Portrait and Autograph of General Taylor. 

2. Fac-Simile of General Taylor's Letter to the Hon. A. H. Mickle, Mayor of 
New-York. 

3. Plan of the Battles of Palo Alto and of Resaca de la Palma, drawn by Lieut. 
Dobbins. 

4. Map of Central Mexico, showing the contemplated route of the army. 

CHAPTER I. 

PRIVATE LIFE. 

Ancestry — Parentage — Birth and Childhood — Personal Appearance — Traits 
of Character — Style of his Despatches — Pecuniary Circumstances, etc. 

CHAPTER II. 

SERVICES DURING THE LAST WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 

Taylor's Appointment to the Army — Breaking out of the War of 1812 — Indian 
Hostilities in the West — Gallant Defence of Fort Harrison — Taylor Brevet- 
ted Major — Interesting Reminiscence of the Site of Fort Harrison. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE WAR IN FLORIDA. 

Taylor Appointed to the Command of the First Brigade — Bloody Battle of 
Lake Okee-Chobee — Taylor Brevetted Brigadier-General. 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 

Taylor Ordered to Texas — Establishes his Quarters at Corpus Christi — Move- 
ments of the Mexicans — Taylor Marches to the Rio Grande — Murder of 
Col. Cross — Lieut. Porter and three men killed — Surprise and Surrender of 
Captain Thornton's command — Danger of Point Isabel — Captain Walker's 
Rangers — Bombardment of Matamoras and Fort Brown — Battle of Pal© 
Alto — Battle of Resaca de la Palma— Official Despatches — Effect of the 
Victories — Taylor Crosses the Rio Grande — Subsequent Events. 

CHAPTER V. 

SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE LATE CONTEST. 

Ringgold — Brown — Belknap — Twiggs — Payne — Page — Hawkins — May — 
Walker — Chadbourne — Cochrane — Inge — Stevens. 

APPENDIX. 

General Orders — Thanks of Congress to General Taylor, his officers and men 
— Field Report of the corps comprising the Army of Occupation — Mexicans 
engaged in the battles of the eight and ninth — List of officers and men killed 
and wounded — Proclamation by General Taylor to the People of Mexico. 



tile; ^ flc^r^^j. 




&i fan. 



LIFE OF GENERAL TAYLOR, 

BY AN OFFICER OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY, 



* ■ in <# 



LIFE 



AND 



PUBLIC SEKVICES 



o F 



GEN. Z. TAYLOR: 



INCLUDING-' 

A MINUTE ACCOUNT OF HIS DEFENCE OF FORT HARRISON, IN 1812 J 
THE BATTLE OF OKEE-CHOBEE, IN 1837 J AND THE 
BATTLES OF PALO ALTO AND RESACA DE LA PALMA, IN 1846. 



With JTumerous Illustrations 



TO WHICH IS ADDED, 

SKETCHES OF THE OFFICERS WHO HAVE FALLEN IN THE 

LATE CONTEST. 



Edited 



38 



BY AN OFFICER OF THE U. S. A. 

NEW-YORK; 
H. LONG & BROTHER, PUBLISHERS, 

32 ANN STREET. 

1 8 4 6. 



4 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1846, 

BY FOSTER AND CALLICOT, 

la the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New- York, 



NOTICE. 

The Publishers respectfully intimate, that any corrections or alterations that may be sug- 
gested in regard to this work, will be gratefully received and attended to in subsequent 
editions., 



MAP OF CENTRAL MEXICO: 

HOWING THE CONTEMPLATED ROUTE OF THE ARMY. 












IBA'J'T i 

F 





PALDALTU 

I Ml J . 



f 













.•f.'f 








1 







I 



PUBLISHERS' ADVERTISEMENT. 



In answer to a very generally expressed desire, on the part of the public^ 
for a history of the life and public services of General Z. Taylor, the 
Publishers respectfully present the following pages, which contain an au- 
thentic account of the most brilliant passages in the career of the gallant 
soldier who, after having distinguished himself in the late war with Great 
Britain, and subsequently in the Florida campaign, has recently added 
fresh laurels to his own brow, and shed new lustre upon his country's 
arms, by his heroism on the banks of the Rio Grande. 

The peculiar characteristics of this work are as follows : 

1. It contains a succinct but clearly connected account of all the promi- 
nent events of General Taylor's life, from his infancy to the present time, 
selected and prepared by one who has known him for many years. 

2. It contains all General Taylor's official despatches ever published ; 
all the reports of his subordinate officers, which, together, furnish a full 
and complete account of the recent battles, and several of General Tay- 
lor's general orders, never before published, copied from the order book of 
one of his officers. These last, considering the occasion which called 
them forth, and the impressive style in which they are written, are highly 
interesting and valuable. 

3. It contains sketches of the lives of many of the officers engaged in 
the late contest, prepared expressly for this work, from the most authentic 
materials. 

4. It contains, as illustrations, 1. Portrait of General Taylor, engraved 
by Childs from a pencil sketch. [This is the only portrait of Gen. Taylor 
ever published that has the slightest resemblance to his person or features.] 
2. Map of the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, drawn by 
Lieutenant Dobbins. 3. Fac simile of the letter of Gen. Taylor to Hon. 
A. H. Mickle, Mayor of New- York. 4. Map of Central Mexico, showing 
the contemplated route of the army. 

The public may rely upon the authenticity of the work, as it was edit 
ed by an officer of the U. S. Army, who has been familiarly acquainted 
with General Taylor for a series of years ; but who, in view of his position 
in the army, very properly declines giving his name to the public, as his 
ambition is to be known and honored as a soldier, not as an author. 

In addition to the labors of the editor, the Publishers availed themselves 
of many valuable suggestions made by officers of the army, now just from 
the seat of war, to one of whom the proof sheets were submitted for emen- 
dation and correction. 

In conclusion, the publishers return their obligations to the Hon. A. H. 
Mickle, Mayor of New- York, who kindly granted them the use of General 
Taylor's letter for copying, and to William T. Porter, Esq., Editor of the 
Spirit of the Times, who loaned them, for the same purpose, the plan of 
the battles drawn by Lieutenant Dobbins. They would likewise express 
their thanks to more than one of the officers of the army, who have, in 
many ways, aided them in getting up this publication. 



H. LONG & BROTHER, 32 Ann-street. 



LIFE AND SERVICES OF GEN, ZACHARY TAYLOR, 



CHAPTER I. 

PRIVATE LIFE. 

ANCESTRY PARENTAGE — BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD PERSONAL APPEARANCE TRAITS 

OF CHARACTER STYLE OF HIS DESPATCHES — PECUNIARY CIRCUMSTANCES, ETC. 

The brilliant events of the war upon the Rio Grande have directed the eyes 
of the nation to a hero who is rapidly advancing to the highest pinnacle of fame. 
We had been told that Americans were degenerating from the stern valor and 
manly fortitude of their ancestry, that we had lost the power to produce such 
warriors as bore the starry emblem of our freedom through the revolutionary and 
last wars, and that American glory, like a weed of rapid yet sickly growth, was 
destined to wither away under the mercenary influences of the age. The recent 
successes of our arms, under the command of an officer who may be justly termed 
one of the greatest captains of the present time, are proof to the world that the 
American people are fully possessed of all the elements of success in war, and that 
they need nothing but a proper field of action to display their military virtues 
and capacities to the world. 

Ancestry. 

The American branch of the family from which Gen. Taylor springs, origi- 
nated with James Taylor, who emigrated to this country from England in the 
year 1692, and located himself in the eastern part of Virginia. Coming from a 
land where the law of primogeniture was considered next to the law of God, it 
was natural that he should adhere in some measure to the same opinion, even 
though the very goal which he sought in coming here was an indiscriminate 
equality among men. His own name was James, his eldest son took the same, 
and so of his eldest son down to the present time. It is a remarkable fact that 
the son has in no case died before the father ; and although nearly two centuries 
have elapsed since the first settlement of the family in America, the prospect is 
still fair for a further perpetuation of an innocent prejudice. Gen. James Tay- 
lor, of Newport, Kentucky, is, at the present time, the senior ; having a son of 
the same name, and the latter, also, one of the same name, and all in good 
health. Gen. Taylor of Newport, was Quartermaster General in the Army at 
the time of Hull's surrender, and though now near eighty years of age, continues 
to denounce that unfortunate individual with all the force of youthful patriotism. 
He is said to be worth near one million of dollars ; and is the father-in-law of 
the Hon. John W. Tibbatts, of the House of Representatives. 

5 



10 



PRIVATE LIFE. 



The collateral branches, springing of course from the younger sons and 
daughters, have extended to many parts of Virginia, North Carolina and Ken- 
tucky, and in fact all over the Southern States, even into Texas. Many of our 
most distinguished men have sprung from this family ; among others, James 
Madison, John Taylor of Caroline, author of several well known political works, 
Judge Pendleton of Virginia, and Gen. Memucan Hunt. Gen. James Taylor of 
Newport, who as before stated is now living, and Hubbard and Richard Taylor, 
younger brothers, emigrated to Kentucky among the very earliest of its pioneers. 
The two latter took their wives with them from Virginia, but the former did not 
marry until some time after his location at Newport. 

Parentage. 

The immediate parents of the subject of this biography were the very persons 
who might be expected to produce so noble a son. His father was one of the 
most daring of that band of enterprizing pioneers of the West who settled the 
" dark and bloody ground," to use the Indian meaning of the word Kentucky. 
Many instances are preserved in the traditions of that State of his desperate 
encounters with the savages, and Governor Scott, who was sometimes a little 
profane, is reported to have said that " if he had to storm the gates of Hell, he 
should want Dick Taylor to lead the column !" How could the son of such a 
sire be less than brave ? His mother was a woman of lofty spirit and educated 
mind, devoted to her husband, and possessed of every virtue that can adorn 
woman in her marital and parental relations. How could the offspring of such 
a mother be less than a hero full of honor and manly feeling ? His father was 
not only noted for his courage, but was a man of some eminence in the political 
world, having been a presidential elector in Kentucky for many years, voting 
for Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Clay. He died near Lexington, on the 19th 
of February, 1826. 

Birth and Childhood. 

Zachary Taylor was born in the territory of Kentucky, in 1790, whilst it was 
an appendage of Virginia, and two years before its admission into the Union as 
an independent State. We have fixed this period for his nativity upon the au- 
thority of his relative Mr. Tibbatts,who states that Gen. Taylor is now fifty-six 
years of age. Little is known of his early years, but from the nature of the 
country in which he lived, and the character of its inhabitants, we may suppose 
that a great part of his youth was spent in those manly occupations and amuse- 
ments which are the peculiar delight of the hardy sons of the forest. Hunting, 
fishing, traversing the vast prairies and navigating the mighty rivers of the west, 
are employments fitted to train any one for the hardships and privations of war, 
enure him to suffering, give him unconquerable fortitude, and impart that spirit 
of enterprise which impels to daring achievements. That such was the effect 
upon young Taylor's character may be inferred from the fact that when about 
seventeen years of age he swam from the Kentucky shore across the Ohio river 
to the Indiana side and back again, without resting, in company with an older 
brother long since dead. The feat was performed in the month of March when 
the river was swollen and chill, and far surpasses the famous one of swimming 
the Hellespont, which is about a mile across and of delightful temperature. 
His old schoolmaster, Elisha Ayres, is still living at Preston in Connecticut, 
and says that he remembers Zachary as being a very active and sensible boy. 

Personal Appearance. 

Old Zack, as he is called, is about five feet nine or ten inches in height, and 
remarkable for the shortness of his legs in proportion to his body ; he is stout 



PRIVATE LIFE. 



11 



though not corpulent, and presents a straight, vigorous and muscular figure. 
He is very negligent about his dress, and many amusing anecdotes are told of 
the awkward mistakes which have occurred from his shabby attire. During 
the Florida campaign, a certain young officer, after receiving his commission, 
was ordered to join the army in that quarter. His first duty was, of course, to 
report himself to General Taylor. After a very tedious journey, however, 
through the woods, our officer arrived at a small shanty, called a tavern, about 
fifty miles from head quarters, where he thought proper to stay three days. 
There were only two visitors besides himself. One of them, an oldish, shabby 
looking man, with a black hat, minus part of the crown, and a piece of twine 
for a riband, was very inquisitive, and amongst other things, asked our officer 
what excuse he intended to make for his delay in reporting himself to the Gen- 
eral. 

" O," said the officer, " they say Taylor is a very easy old soul, and I can 
easily make up an excuse." 

On going to bed that night, the officer asked the landlord who that impudent, 
inquisitive old fellow was. " Why," said the host, " don't you know General 
Taylor?" 

About an hour afterwards, at midnight, the tramp of a horse's feet was heard, 
making large tracks towards head quarters. 

General Taylor's eyes are grey ; his hair is black, and his face has a re- 
markably mild and placid expression. 

Traits of Character. 

Possessed of wonderful presence of mind, and great coolness and sagacity in 
the hour of battle, he has acquired the expressive title of " Old Rough and 
Ready," a phrase which is becoming rapidly as popular as Jackson's cognomen 
" Old Hickory." As an instance of his characteristic calmness in the midst of 
danger, it is said that during the battle of Resaca de la Palma, General Taylor 
was sitting on his horse in the thickest of the fight with his sword drawm, while 

the balls were rattling all around him. Col. C— , the amiable Sutler of 

the 4th, formerly mayor of Augusta, and well known for his courage and kind- 
ness of disposition, remarked to him that it was getting rather hot, and proposed 
to him to retire a little. " Let's ride a little nearer, the balls will fall behind us!" 
was the General's reply. Brave as a lion, and manly in his demeanor, he is 
full of generous feeling, and warmly beloved by the whole army. He is pro- 
verbially attentive to those under his command, and takes the greatest interest 
in their comfort and welfare. An officer who served under him in the Florida 
war, in conversation with us remarked that his kindness to his men and officers 
in illness in that sickly climate, endeared him to them as much, if not more 
than his gallantry in the field. During the summer of 1S39, when the troops 
Were more than decimated by the yellow and congestive fevers, he was ever to 
be found walking through the wards of the hospital, looking out with a keen eye 
for the comforts of all, soldier and officer alike. Poor Lieutenant Griffin, his 
favorite aid, died in the month of August, 1839, in the arms of our informant, 
and Taylor stood by his side in his last agony, and when the suffering spirit of 
that noble officer sprung up from its tenement of clay, Taylor knelt down by 
the rude couch of the deceased soldier and burst into tears. A heart at once 
so full of true bravery and tender feeling ; formed for daring deeds, and still 
capable of softness and tears, is not often seen in this iceberg world of ours, and 
when it is seen is always appreciated. 

We have heard several very good anecdotes related of General Taylor's 
humor, which show that he is not too stern to enjoy a bit of fun. The follow- 
ing is one of the number : — 



12 



PRIVATE LIFE. 



During the war with the Seminoles, the army was frequently supplied with 
corn which had become damaged by exposure to damp air. — Gen. Taylor had a 
horse which was called " Clay-bank," a very good animal, but he did not par- 
ticularly fancy Uncle Sam's musty rations. The General used to partake of the 
same fare as the soldiers under him, and so did " Clay-bank," so far as the com 
was concerned, but he was a little dainty. The General was very fond of hom- 
iny, and musty corn made anything but a pleasant diet. He would not lay 
himself liable to the suspicion of " picking," to the prejudice of the soldiers, so 
old " Clay-bank" would be let loose among the sacks of corn, and after smelling 
very carefully, the sagacious animal would commence gnawing a hole into one 
which pleased him. The general would watch the manoeuvre until he saw 
" Clay-bank" had made a choice, then, calling his servant, would direct him to 
have "Clay-bank" stabled immediately for fear he might do mischief ; but, he 
would say, " as the animal has gnawed a hole in the bag, take out a quart or 
so of the corn and make a dish of hominy." The trick was played several 
times, but by and bye, it became known that whenever " Clay-bank" gnawed 
into a sack, sweet corn was to be found, and the incident became a standing 
joke during the war. 

Style of his Despatches. 

Brevity is said to be the soul of wit, and " Old Rough and Ready" would 
seem to be of opinion that military despatches should possess the same merit. 
All his compositions are remarkable for their succicnt, plain style, and while 
they have no redundances, contain everything that should be said. Secretary 
Marcy, it is said, complained to Taylor " that his despatches were not suffici- 
ently in detail ;" to which the old General replied, " that he was sorry for it — 
that he put into them all he had to say!" 

Pecuniary Circumstances. 

Gen. Taylor possesses a large property, having received from his father a 
considerable estate, which has been much increased by prudent management. 
He owns a large plantation in East Feliciana parish, Louisiana, besides 
extensive estates in Kentucky, and houses and lots in Louisville. The 
largest strawberry gardens in the world are probably those on General Taylor's 
estate at the mouth of the Licking river, opposite Cincinnati. They cover more 
than one hundred acres. He has resided for 20 years in Baton Rouge and 
was for some time stationed at Fort Gibson, on the Arkansas. 

Family. 

Gen. Taylor has one son and two daughters now living. The former was 
recently made the bearer of his father's commission of Brevet Major General^ 
which was the first Brevet granted by Congress during the war with Mexico. 
One of his daughters, now dead, was married to Hon. Jefferson Davis, a mem- 
ber of Congress from Mississippi. He is a graduate of West Point, and an ac- 
complished orator, and has been elected to the Colonelcy of the Mississippi regi- 
ment of volunteers, ordered for service in Mexico. 

Gen. Taylor married a lady of family, equal in respectability to any in Mary- 
land. His wife was the sister of the late Major S. R. Smith, of the Marine Corps. 

Lieut. Col. Joseph Taylor, Commissary of Subsistence, is a brother of Gen. 
Taylor, and has been attached to the army since 1812. He is a man of high 
standing and reputation. 



SERVICES DURING THE LAST WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 



13 



CHAPTER II. 

SERVICES DURING THE LAST WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 

Taylor's appointment to the army — breaking out of the war of 1812 — 

indian hostilities in the west gallant defence of fort harrison 

taylor brevetted major interesting reminiscence of the 

site of fort harrison. 

Taylor's Appointment to the Army. 

It was soon after the affair of the Chesapeake and Leopard, when a war with 
the mightest empire of Europe impended over the Republic, that young Zachary 
Taylor, only eighteen years of age, applied for a commission in the army. He 
ardently desired to signalize his valor against the old enemies of his country, 
and hastened to obtain a position in which he might do honor to the American 
name. At an early age he had associated himself with one of the numerous 
volunteer corps of Kentucky, and obtained a high reputation for aptitude in 
military science, which was his favorite study. Thus possessed of every sol- 
dierly qualification, and supported by the popular feeling of his neighborhood, 
and the influence of his family, it is not surprising that he speedily obtained the 
object of his washes. In 1808, the last year of Mr. Jefferson's second adminis- 
tration, and while Gen. Henry Dearborn was Secretary of War, Zachary Tay- 
lor received the appointment of Lieutenant in the 7th infantpy-f and commenced 
his military career in the regular service of the United States. Beloved and 
respected by his brother officers, and admired by his superiors for his strict ob- 
servance of duty and distinguished merit as a disciplinarian, he was rapidly 
promoted, and we find him a captain in the same regiment before the 

Breaking out of the War in 1812. 

Our affairs with Great Britain had been for some time embarrassed in conse- 
quence of their violation of our rights as neutrals, and a rupture became inevit- 
able. On the 15th of June, 1812, the President laid before Congress the 
correspondence between our Secretary of State and the British Government, 
which seemed to preclude all hope of coming to an adjustment, in the two prin- 
cipal points in dispute, the orders in council, and the subject of impressment. 
On the 18th of June, after sitting with closed doors, the solemn and important 
appeal to arms was announced. The President had communicated his message 
in which all our complaints against Great Britain w r ere enumerated with great 
force, and an opinion expressed that no remedy remained but open war. The 
committee on foreign affairs, to whom the message was referred, concurred with 
the President in recommending the measure. An act of Congress was accord- 
ingly passed, which received the sanction of the President on the same day, and 
on the day following, the 19th of June, 1812, war was publicly proclaimed. 

Indian Hostilities in the West. 

A meeting of the citizens of Vincennes was held as early as July 1811, to 
memorialize President Madison to commence a war against the Indians of the 
North Western Territory. Various injuries and depredations had been com- 
mitted by these savages, under the instigation of British agents, upon our popu- 
lation, and it became necessary to teach them a lesson which should repress 
their barbarities in future. In the year 1810, a Miami chief having received at 



14 



SERVICES DURING THE LAST WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 



Fort Maiden his annual donation of goods, was thus addressed by Ellicott, the 
British agent : " My son, keep your eyes fixed on me — my tomahawk is up — 
be you ready — but do not strike until I give the signal." So long previous as 
1808, an agent from the British provinces arrived at the prophet's town among 
the Shawnees, and delivered a message the substance of which was to urge the 
prophet to unite as many tribes as he could against the United States, but not 
commence hostilities until they gave the signal. In the spring of 181] a great 
belt was sent round among those tribes on our northern frontier, for the purpose 
of uniting them in a confederacy, the object of which was " to confine the great 
water, and prevent it from overflowing them." This belt upon its return was 
shown to a prominent British agent in that country who danced for joy to see 
that so many tribes had joined against the United States. Every account con- 
firmed the belief that British agents among the Indians were exciting them 
against us, and furnishing them with arms and munitions of war. Under these 
circumstances it was not at all surprising that the American citizens who were 
more immediately threatened with this savage outbreak should desire the Gov- 
ernment to punish the Indians by force of arms before they could be joined by 
their British and Canadian allies. 

But through the activity of General Harrison, then Governor of the North- 
Western Territory, their wishes were anticipated, and troops were marched into 
the enemy's country before the Vincennes petition had reached the general gov- 
ernment. On the 5th of October, 1811, the troops under the command of Gov. 
Harrison had advanced to a point on the Wabash river sixty-five miles above 
Vincennes, and after reconnoitring the country, the Governor determined on 
building a fort there. On the 29th of the same month the fort was completed, 
and at the unanimous request of the officers, was called Fort Harrison. This 
was afterwards the scene of one of the most daring and glorious defences in the 
whole war. 

Defence of Fort Harrison. 

Through the winter of 1811-12 the army, of course, suspended its operations 
but in the following spring the Indians were joined by the British, and the war was 
resumed with additional fury. The command of Fort Harrison on the Wabash 
was entrusted to Captain Taylor, with a garrison of about fifty men. On the 
night of the 4th of September this fort was attacked by a large body of Indians, 
and it was then that the memorable defence was made. We might easily de- 
scribe the battle from the abundance of material before us, but prefer giving an 
account of it in the gallant commander's own language at the time. 

Letter from Captain Z. Taylor, commanding Fort Harrison, Indian Territory, 

to General Harrison. 

Fort Harrison, Sept. 10th, 1812. 
Dear Sir : On Thursday evening, the 2nd inst, after retreat beating, four guns were 
heard to fire in the direction where two young men (citizens who resided here) were mak- 
ing hay, about 400 yards distance from the Fort— I was immediately impressed with an 
idea that they were killed by the Indians, as the prophet's party would soon be here for the 
purpose of commencing hostilities, and that they had been directed to leave this place, 
which we were about to do. I did not think it prudent to send out at that late hour of the 
night, to see what had become of them, and their not coming in convinced me that I was 
right in my conjecture— I waited until 8 o'clock next morning, when I sent a corporal with 
a small party to find them, if it could be done without running too much risk of being 
drawn into an ambuscade. He soon sent back to inform me that he had found them both 
killed, and wished to know my further orders ; I sent the cart and oxen, had them brought 
in and buried , they had been shot with two balls, scalped and cut in the most shocking 
manner. Late in the evening of the 4th inst., old Joseph Lenar, and between 30 and 40 
Indians arrived from the Prophet's town with a white flag ; among whom were about ten 



SERVICES DURING THE LAST WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 



35 



women, and the men were composed of Chiefs of the different Tribes that compose the Pro- 
phet's party. A Shawanoe man, that spoke good English, informed me that old Lenar 
intended to speak to me next morning, and try to get something to eat. At retreat beating 
I examined the men's arms and found them all in good order, and completed with cartridges 
to 16 pounds per man. As I had not been able to mount a guard of more than six privates 
and two non-commissioned officers, for some time past, and sometimes part of them every 
other day, from the unhealthiness of the Company ; I had not conceived my force adequate 
to the defence of this post, should it be vigorously attacked, for some time past. As I had 
just recovered from a severe attack of the fever, I was not able to be up much through the 
night. After tatoo I cautioned the guard to be v ili gaa t, and ordered one of the non-com- 
missioned officers, as the sentinels could not see every part of the garrison, to walk on the 
inside during the whole night, to prevent the Indians taking any advantage of us, provided 
they had any intention of attacking us. About 11 o'clock I was awakened by the firing of 
one of the sentinels. I sprung up and ran out, and ordered the men to their posts : when 
my orderly-sergeant (who had charge of the upper block-house) called out that the Indians 
had fired the lower block-house, which contained the property of the Contractor (which 
was deposited in the lower part, the upper having been assigned to a corporal and ten pri- 
vates as an alarm post.) The guns had began to fire pretty smartly from both sides. I 
directed the buckets to be got ready and water brought from the well, and the fire extin- 
guished immediately, as it was perceivable at that time. But from debility or some other 
cause the men were very slow in executing my orders — the word fire appeared to throw the 
whole of them in confusion, and by the time they had got the water and broken open the 
door, the fire had unfortunately communicated to a quantity of whiskey, (the stock having 
licked several holes through the lower part of the building, after the salt that was stored 
there, through which they had introduced the fire, without being discovered as the night 
was very dark,) and in spite of every exertion we could make use of, in less than a moment 
it ascended to the roof and baffled every effort we could make to extinguish it. As that 
block-house joined the barracks that made part of the fortifications, most of the men im- 
mediately gave themselves up for lost, and I had the greatest difficulty in getting my orders 
executed — and, sir, what from the raging of the fire — the yelling and howling of several 
hundred Indians — the cries of 9 women and children, (a part soldiers' and a part citizens' 
wives who had taken shelter in the fort,) and the desponding of so many men, which was 
worse' than all — I can assure you that my feelings were unpleasant — and indeed there were 
not more than ten or fifteen men able to do a great deal, the others being either sick or con- 
valescent — and to add to our other misfortunes, two of the stoutest men in the fort, and that 
I had every confidence in, jumped the picket, and left us. But my presence of mind did 
not for a moment forsake me. I saw by throwing off part of the roof* that joined the block- 
house that was on fire, and keeping the end perfectly wet, the whole row of buildings might 
be saved, and leave only an entrance of 18 or 20 feet for the Indians to enter after the house 
was consumed ; and that a temporary breast-work might be erected to prevent their even 
entering there. I convinced the men that this could be accomplished, and it appeared to in- 
spire them with new life, and never did men act with more firmness or desperation. Those 
that were able (while the others kept up a constant fire from the other block-house and the 
two bastions) mounted the roofs of the houses, with Dr. Clark at their head, (who acted with 
the greatest firmness and presence of mind the whole time the attack lasted, which was 7 
hours,) under a shower of bullets, and in less than a moment threw off as much of the roof 
as was necessary. This was done with the loss of one man and two wounded, and I am in 
hopes neither of them dangerous, — the man that was killed was a little deranged, and did 
not get off of the house as soon as directed, or he would not have been hurt — and although 
the barracks w r ere several times in a blaze, and an immense quantity of fire against them, 
the men used such exertion that they kept it under, and before day raised a temporary 
breastwork as high as a man's head, although the Indians continued to pour in a heavy fire 
of ball and an innumerable quantity of arrows during the whole time it lasted, in every part 
of the parade. I had but one other man killed, nor any other wounded inside the fort, and 
he lost his life by being too anxious — he got into one of the gullies in the bastions, and fired 
over the pickets, and called out to his comrades that he had killed an Indian, and neglecting 
to stoop down, in an instant he was shot dead. One of the men that jumped the pickets, 
returned an hour before day, and running up towards the gate, begged for God's sake for it 
to be opened. I suspected it was a stratagem of the Indians to get in, as I did not recollect 
the voice — I directed the men in the bastion, where I happened to be, to shoot him, let him 
be who he would, and one of them fired at him, but fortunately he ran up to the other bas- 
tion, where they knew his voice, and Dr. Clark directed him to lie down close to the pickets 
behind an empty barrel that happened to be there — and at day-light I had him let in. His 
arm was broke in a most shocking manner ; which he says was done by the Indians — which 
I suppose was the cause of his returning — I think it probable that he will not recover. The 
other they caught about 130 yards from the garrison, and cut him all to pieces. After 
keeping up a constant fire until about six o'clock the next morning, which we began to 
return with some effect after day-light, they removed out of reach of our guns. A party of 



16 



SERVICES DURING THE LAST WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN. 



them drove up the horses that belonged to the citizens here, and as they could catch them 
readily, shot the whole of them in our sight, as well as a number of their hogs. They 
drove off the whole of the cattle, which amounted to 65 head, as well as the public oxen. 
I had the vacancy filled up before night (which was made by the burning of the block-house) 
with a strong row of pickets, which I got by pulling down the guard-house. We lost the 
whole of our provisions : but must make out to live upon green corn until we can get a sup- 
ply, which I am in hopes will not be long. I believe the whole of Miamies or Weas were 
among the Prophet's party, as one chief gave his orders in that language, which resembled 
Stone Eater's voice, and I believe Negro Legs was there likewise. A Frenchman here 
understands their different languages, and several of the Miamies or Weas that have been 
frequently here, were recognized by the Frenchman and soldiers next morning. The In- 
dians suffered smartly, but were so numerous as to take off all that were shot. They con- 
tinued with us until the next morning, but made no further attempt on the fort, nor have 
we seen anything more of them. I have delayed informing you of my situation, as I did not 
like to weaken the garrison, and I looked for some person from Vincennes, and none of my 
men were acquainted with the woods, and therefore I would have to take the road or river, 
which I was fearful was guarded by small parties of Indians that would not dare to attack a 
company that was on a scout : but, being disappointed, I have at length determined to 
send a couple of my men by water, and am in hopes they will arrive safe. I think it would 
be best to send the provisions under a pretty strong escort, as the Indians may attempt to 
prevent their coming. 

If you carry on an expedition against the Prophet this fall, you ought to be well provided 
with everything, as you may calculate on having every inch of ground disputed between 
this and there that they can defend with advantage. 

Wishing, &c. 
(Signed) Z. TAYLOR. 

His excellency Gov. Harrison. 



Fort Harrison, Sept. 13th, 1812. 
Dear Sir : I wrote you on the 10th instant giving you an account of an attack on this 
place, as well as my situation, which account I attempted to send by water, but the two 
men whom I despatched in a canoe after night, found the river so well guarded that they 
were obliged to return. The Indians had built a fire on the bank of the river, a short dis- 
tance below the garrison, which gave them an opportunity of seeing any craft that might 
attempt to pass, and were waiting with a canoe ready to intercept it. But my situation 
compels me to make one other attempt by land, and my orderly-sergeant with one man sets 
out to night, with strict orders to avoid the road in day time, and depend entirely on the 
woods, although neither of them have ever been in Vincennes by land, nor do they know 
anything of the country, but I am in hopes they will reach you in safety. I send them 
with great reluctance from their ignorance of the woods. I think it very probable there is 
a large party of Indians waylaying the road between this and Vincennes, likely about the 
Narrows, for the purpose of intercepting any party that may come to this place, as the cattle 
they got here will supply them plentifully with provisions for some time to come. 

(Signed) Z. TAYLOR. 

His excellency Gov. Harrison. 

On the afternoon of the same day on which this last despatch was written, 
Col. Kussell fortunately reached the fort at the head of some companies of ran- 
gers and Indiana militia, and relieved the garrison who were in a starving con- 
dition, their provisions having been nearly all consumed. Wagons loaded with 
provisions had been sent on from Vincennes under an escort of Lieutenant Fair- 
banks and thirteen privates of the regular troops ; but they were surprised, and 
all killed but two or three. They were, however, soon followed by a large 
command, which reached the fort in safety. 

The Indians were so exasperated by their failure in this expedition, that they 
shortly afterwards attacked the settlement at a place called Pigeon Roost, on 
the frontier of Clark county, and murdered twenty-one of the inhabitants, some 
of them women and children, with circumstances of horrid barbarity. 

Taylor Brevetted Major. * 

In November, 1812, the President was pleased to confer the Brevet rank of 
Major on Captain Taylor, for his gallant defence of Fort Harrison. "* 



THE WAR IN FLORIDA. 



17 



CHAPTER III. 

THE WAR IN FLORIDA. 

TAYLOR APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OF THE FIRST BRIGADE BLOODY BATTLE OF 

LAKE OKEE-CHOBEE TAYLOR BREVETTED BRIGADIER-GENERAL. 

The protracted and bloody war with the Seminole Indians in Florida, is a 
melancholy page in our country's history. Although, as a matter of course, 
the victory was with civilization and discipline, and the objects attained were of 
the greatest national importance, so many of our bravest officers and soldiers 
were swept away by disease, and felled by the deadly tomahawk and murderous 
rifle of the savage, that the conquest was dearly bought. 

In that harrassing contest, no officer shone more conspicuously than the gal- 
lant Taylor. His well-known skill in Indian warfare, acquired in his brilliant 
career in the North Western Territory during the war of 1812-14, had secured 
to him the command of the First Brigade of the Army of the South, and it was 
at the head of that Division that he won the 

Bloody Battle of Lake Okee-Chobee. 

To describe that terrific struggle a military pen is required, and the reader 
must again be presented with a despatch of Gen. Taylor's. 

HEAD QUARTERS. FIRST BRIGADE. 

ARMY SOUTH OF THE WITHLACOOCHEE, 

Fort Gardiner, January 4, 1838. 

Sir : On the 19th ultimo, I received at this place a communication from Major General 
Jesup, informing me that all hopes of bringing the war to a close by negotiation, through 
the interference, or mediation, of the Cherokee delegation, were at an end, Sam Jones, with 
the Mickasukies, having determined to fight it out to the last, and directing me to proceed 
with the least possible delay against any portion of the enemy I might hear of within stri- 
king distance, and to destroy or capture him. 

After leaving two officers and an adequate force for the protection of my depot, I march- 
ed the next morning, with twelve days' rations (my means of transportation not enabling me 
to carry more), with the balance of my command, consisting of Captain Munroe's company 
of the 4th Artillery, total 35 men ; the 1st Infantry, under the command of Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Foster, 274 ; the 6th Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, 221 ; the Mis- 
souri Volunteers, ISO ; Morgan's Spies, 47 ; Pioneers, 30 ; Pontoneers, 13 ; and 70 Dela- 
ware Indians, making a force, exclusive of officers, of 1032 men. The greater part of the 
Shawnees having been detached, and the balance refusing to accompany me, under the 
pretext that a number of them were sick, and the remainder were without mockasins, I 
moved down the west side of the Kissimmee, in a southeasterly course, towards Lake Isto- 
poga, for the following reasons : 1st. Because I knew a portion of the hostiles were to be 
found in that direction ; 2d. If General Jesup should fall in with the Mickasukies and drive 
them, they might attempt to elude him by crossing the Kissimmee, from the east to the west 
side of the peninsula, between this and its entrance into the Okee-chobee, in which case I 
might be near at hand to intercept them ; 3d. To overawe and induce such of the enemy 
who had been making propositions to give themselves up, and who appeared very slow, if 
not to hesitate in complying with their promises on that head, to surrender at once ; and last- 
ly, I deemed it advisable to erect block-houses and a small picket work on the Kissimmee, for 
a third depot, some thirty or forty miles below this, and obtain a kowledge of the intervening 
country, as I had no guide who could be relied on, and by this means open a communica- 
tion with Colonel Smith, who was operating up the Caloosehatchee, or Sangbel river, un- 
der my orders. Late in the evening of the first day's march, I met the Indian chief Jumper, 
with his family and a part of his band, consisting of fifteen men, a part of them with fam- 
ilies, and a few negroes, in all sixty-three souls, on his way to give himself up, in conform- 
ity to a previous arrangement I had entered into with him. They were conducted by Cap- 
tain Parks and a few Shawnees. He (Parks) is an active, intelligent half-breed, who is at 
the head of the friendly Indians, both Shawnees and Delawares, and who I had employed to 



18 



THE WAR IN FLORIDA. 



arrange and bring in Jumper and as many of his people as he could prevail on to come in. 
We encamped that night near the same spot, and the next morning, having ordered 
Captain Parks to join me and take command of the Delawares, and having dispatched 
Jumper, in charge of some Shawnees, to this place, and so on to Fort Frazier, I continued 
my march, after having sent forward three friendly Seminole9 to gain intelligence as to the 
position of the enemy. About noon the same day, I sent forward one battalion of Gentry's 
regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Price, to pick up any stragglers that might 
fall in his way, to encamp two or three miles in advance of the main force, to act with 
great circumspection, and to communicate promptly any occurrence that might take place 
in his vicinity important for me to know. 

About 10, P.M., I received a note from the colonel, stating that the three Seminoles sent 
forward in the morning had returned ; that they had been at or where Alligator had encamp- 
ed, twelve or fifteen miles in his advance ; that he (Alligator) had left there with a part of 
his family four days before, under the pretext of separating his relations, &c, from the 
Mickasukies, preparatory to his surrendering with them ; that there were several families 
remaining at the camp referred to, who wished to give themselves up, and would remain 
there until we took possession of them, unless they were forcibly carried off that night by 
the Mickasukies, who were encamped at no great distance from them. In consequence of 
this intelligence, after directing Lieutenant-Colonel Davenport to follow me early in the 
morning with the infantry, a little after midnight I put myself at the head of the residue of 
the mounted men and joined Lieutenant-Colonel Price, proceeded on, crossing Istopoga 
outlet, and soon after daylight took possession of the encampment referred to, where I found 
the inmates, who had not been disturbed. They consisted of an old man, and two young 
ones, and several women and children, amounting in all to twenty-two individuals. The 
old man informed me that Alligator was very anxious to separate his people from the Mick- 
asukies, who were encamped on the opposite side of the Kissimmee, distant about twenty 
miles, where they would fight us. I sent him to Alligator to say to him, if he were sincere 
in his professions, to meet me next day at the Kissimmee, where the trail I was marching on 
crossed, and where I should halt. As soon as the infantry came up I moved on to the place 
designated, which I reached late that evening, and where I encamped. About 11, P.M., the 
old Indian returned, bringing a very equivocal message from Alligator, who, he stated, he 
had met accidentally ; also, that the Mickasukies were still encamped where they had been 
for some days, and where they were determined to fight us. 

I determined at once on indulging them as soon as practicable. Accordingly, next morn- 
ing, after laying out a small stockade work for the protection of a future depot, in order to 
enable me to move with the greatest celerity, I deposited the whole of my heavy baggage, 
including artillery, &c, and having provisioned the command to include the 26th, after 
leaving Captain Munroe with his company, the pioneer pontoneers, with eighty-five sick 
and disabled infantry, and a portion of the friendly Indians, who alleged that they were un- 
able to march farther, crossed the Kissimmee, taking the old Indian as a guide who had been 
captured the day before, and who accompanied us with great apparent reluctance, in pur- 
suit of the enemy, and early the next day reached Alligator's encampment, situated on the 
edge of Cabbage-tree Hammock, in the midst of a large prairie, from the appearance of 
which, and other encampments in the vicinity, and the many evidences of slaughtered cat- 
tle, there must have been several hundred individuals. 

At another small hammock, at no great distance from Alligator's encampment, and sur- 
rounded by a swamp, impassable for mounted men, the spies surprised an encampment con- 
taining one old man, four young men, and some women and children. 

One of the party immediately raised a white flag, when the men were taken possession of, 
and brought across the swamp to the main body. I proceeded with an interpreter to meet 
them. They proved to be Seminoles, and professed to be friendly. They stated that they 
were preparing to come in ; they had just slaughtered a number of cattle, and were em- 
ployed in drying and jerking the same. They also informed me that the Mickasukies, 
headed by A-vi-a-ka (Sam Jones), was some ten or twelve miles distant encamped in a 
swamp, and were prepared to fight. 

Although I placed but little confidence in their professions of friendship, or their inten- 
tions of coming in, yet I had no time to look up their women and children, who had fled 
and concealed themselves in the swamp, or to have encumbered myself with them in the 
situation in which I then was. Accordingly, I released the old man, who promised that he 
would collect all the women and children and take them in to Captain Munroe, at the Kis- 
simmee, the next day. I also dismissed the old man who had acted as guide thus far, sup- 
plying his place with the four able warriors who had been captured that morning. 

These arrangements being made, I moved under their guidance for the camp of the Mick- 
asukies. Between two and three, P.M., we reached a very dense cypress swamp, through 
which we were compelled to pass, and in which our guide informed us we might be at- 
tacked. After making the necessary dispositions for battle, it was ascertained that there 
was no enemy to oppose us. The army crossed over and encamped for the night, it being 
late. During the passage of the rear, Captain Parks, who was in advance with a few friend- 



THE WAR IN FLORIDA. 



ly Indians, fell in with two of the enemy's spies, between two and three miles of our camp, 
one on horseback, the other on foot, and succeeded in capturing the latter. He was an ac- 
tive young warrior, armed with an excellent ride, fifty balls in his pouch, and an adequate 
proportion of powder. This Indian confirmed the information which had been previously 
received from the other Indians, and, in addition, stated that a large body of Seminoles, 
headed by John Cohua, Co-a-coo-chee, and, no doubt. Alligator, with other chiefs, were 
encamped five or six miles from us, near the Mickasukies, with a cypress swamp and dense 
hammock between them and the latter. The army moved forward at daylight the next 
morning, and after marching five or six miles, reached the camp of the Seminoles on the 
border of another cypress swamp, which must have contained several hundred, and bore 
evident traces of having been abandonded in a great hurry, as the fires were still burning, 
and quantities of beef lying on the ground unconsumed. Here the troops were again dis- 
posed of in order of battle, but we found no enemy to oppose us ; and the command was 
crossed over about 11, A.M., when we entered a large prairie in our front, on which two or 
three hundred head of cattle were grazing, and a number of Indian ponies. 

Here another young Indian warrior was captured, armed and equipped as the former. He 
pointed out a dense hammock on our right, about a mile distant, in which he said the hos- 
tiles were situated, and waiting to give us battle. At this place the final disposition was 
made to attack them, which w T as in two lines, the Volunteers under Gentry, and Morgan's 
Spies, to form the first line in extended order, who were instructed to enter the hammock, 
and in the event of being attacked and hard pressed, were to fall back in rear of the regular 
troops, out of reach of the enemy's fire; the second was composed of the 4th and 6th in- 
fantry, who were instructed to sustain the volunteers, the 1st infantry being held in reserve. 
Moving on in the direction of the hammock, after proceeding about a quarter of a mile, we 
reached the swamp which separated us from the enemy, three quarters of a mile in breadth, 
being totally impassable for horses, and nearly so for foot, covered with a thick growth of 
saw grass five feet high, and about knee deep in mud and water, which extended to the left 
as far as the eye could reach, and to the right to a part of the swamp and hammock we had 
just crossed through, ran a deep creek. At the edge of the swamp the men were dis- 
mounted, and the horses and baggage left under a suitable guard. Captain Allen was de- 
tached with the two companies of mounted infantry to examine the swamp and hammock to 
the right, and in case he should not find the enemy in that direction, w T as to return to the 
baggage, and in the event of his hearing a heavy firing to join me immediately. After ma- 
king these arrangements, I crossed the swamp in the order stated. On reaching the borders 
of the hammock, the volunteers and spies received a heavy fire from the enemy, which was 
returned by them for a short time, when their gallant commander, Colonel Gentry, fell mor- 
tally wounded. Theymostiy broke ; and instead of forming in the rear of the regulars, as 
had been directed, they retired across the swamp to their baggage and horses, nor could 
they be again brought into action as a body, although efforts were made repeatedly by 
my staff to induce them to do so. The enemy, however, were promptly checked and 
driven back by the 4th and 6th infantry, which in truth might be said to be a moving bat- 
tery. The weight of the enemy's fire was principally concentrated on five companies of the 
6th infantry, which not only stood firm, but continued to advance until their gallant com- 
mander, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, and his adjutant, Lieutenant Center, were killed, 
and every officer, with one exception, as well as most of the non-commissioned officers, in- 
cluding the serjeant-major and four of the orderly Serjeants, killed and wounded of those 
companies, when that portion of the regiment retired to a short distance and were again 
formed, one of these companies having but four members left untouched. 

Lieutenant-Colonel Foster, with six companies, amounting in all to one hundred and sixty 
men, gained the hammock in good order, where he was joined by Captain Noel with the 
two remaining companies of the 6th infantry, and Captain Gillam, of Gentry's Volunteers, 
with a few additional men, continued to drive the enemy for a considerable time, and by a 
change of front, separated his line and continued to drive him until he reached the great 
lake, Okee-chobee, which was in the rear of the enemy's position, and on which their en- 
campment extended for more than a mile. As soon as I was informed that Captain Allen 
was advancing, I ordered the 1st infantry to move to the left, gain the enemy's right flank, 
and turn it, which order was executed in the promptest manner possible, and as soon as 
that regiment got in position, the enemy gave one fire and retreated, being pursued by the 
1st, 4th, and 6th, and some of the volunteers who had joined them, until near night, and 
until these troops were nearly exhausted, and the enemy driven in all directions. The ac- 
tion was a severe one, and continued from half-past twelve until three, P.M., a part of the 
time very close and severe. 

We suffered much, having twenty-six killed, and one hundred and twelve wounded, 
among whom are some of our most valuable officers. The hostiles probably suffered, all 
things considered, equally with ourselves, they having left ten dead on the ground, besides, 
doubtless, carrying off more, as is customary with them when practicable. As soon as the 
enemy were completely broken, I turned my attention to taking care of the wounded, to 
facilitate their removal to my baggage, where I ordered an encampment to be formed. I di- 



THE WAR IN FLORIDA. 



rected Captain Taylor to cross over to the spot, and employ every individual whom he migh 
find there in constructing a small footway across the swamp ; this, with great exertions, was 
completed in a short time after dark, when all the dead and wounded were carried over in 
litters made for the purpose, with one exception, a private of the 4th infantry, who was 
killed and could not be found. And here I trust I may be permitted to say that I expe- 
rienced one of the most trying scenes of my life, and he who could have looked on it with 
indifference, his nerves must have been differently organized from my own. Besides the 
killed, there lay one hundred and twelve wounded officers and soldiers, who had accompa- 
nied me one hundred and forty-five miles, most of the way through an unexplored wilder- 
ness, without guides, who had so gallantly beaten the enemy, under my orders, in his strong- 
est position, and who had to be conveyed back, through swamps and hammocks, from 
whence we set out, without any apparent means of doing so. This service, however, was 
encountered and overcome, and they have been conveyed thus far, and proceeded on to 
Tampa Bay on rude litters, constructed with the axe and knife alone with poles and dry 
hides — the latter being found in great abundance at the encampment of the hostiles. The 
litters were carried on the backs of our weak and tottering horses, aided by the residue of 
the command, with more' ease and comfort to sufferers than I could have supposed, and 
with as much as they could have been in ambulances of the most improved and modern con- 
struction. The day after the battle we remained at our encampment, occupied in taking 
care of the wounded, and in the sad office of interring the dead; also, in preparing litters for 
the removal of the wounded, and collecting, with a portion of the mounted men, the horses 
and cattle in the vicinity belonging to the enemy, of which we found about one hundred of 
the former, many of them saddled, and nearly three hundred of the latter. We left our en- 
campment- on the morning of the 27th, for the Kissimmee, where I had left my heavy bag- 
gage, which place we reached about noon on the 28th. After leaving two companies and 
a few Indians to garrison the stockade, which I found nearly completed on my return by 
that active and vigilant officer, Captain Munroe, 4th Artillery, I left the next morning for 
this place, where I arrived on the 31st, and sent forward the wounded next day to Tampa 
Bay, With' the 4th and the 6th infantry, the former to halt at Fort Frazer, remaining here 
myself with the 1st, in order to make preparations to take the field again as soon as my 
horses can be recruited, most of which have been sent to Tampa, and my supplies in a suffi- 
cient state of forwardness to justify the measure. 

Though Col. Taylor won the day, it was at an expense of 130 killed and 
wounded, about one-fourth of his whole force. Two Colonels, (Col. Thomp- 
son, of the 6th Infantry, and Col. Gentry, of the Missouri Volunteers,) fell at 
the head of the troops. Capt. Van Svvearingen, and Lieutenants Brooke and 
Carter, also fell in the engagement : 

During the whole of the engagement Col. Taylor remained on horseback, 
passing from point to point, cheering his men to the conflict, and exposed to the 
Indian rifle at every moment. The spirit with which the commander and all 
his force entered into the conflict, was exhibited in some verses written on the 
occasion, by a soldier. 

" There's battle in yon. hammock black, 

There's lightning in yon cloud : 
Hark! hark ! to the music comrades dear, 

For the Indian yell is loud. 
For the Indian yell is loud, my boys, 

And the rifle's flash is free ; 
But the field of battle is our home, 

And happy, happy men are we : 
And happy men are we," &c. 

Taylor Brevetted Brigadier- General. 

For this battle, Mr. Poinsett, secretary of war, rendered merited praise to al 
engaged, in his communication to Congress. The brevet of Brigadier-Genera.' 
was conferred on Col. Taylor, and he was given the chief command in Florida ; 
which he resigned in 1840, after four or five years' arduous and indefatigable 
service in the swamps and hammocks of Florida. 

After his retirement from Florida, he was assigned to the command of the 
first department of the Army including the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, 
Alabama, &c. with his head quarters at Fort Jesup. Louisiana. 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 19 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 

» 

TAYLOR ORDERED TO TEXAS ESTABLISHES HIS QUARTERS AT CORPUS CHRISTI— 

MOVEMENTS OF THE MEXICANS TAYLOR MARCHES TO THE RIO GRANDE MUR- 
DER OF COL. CROSS — LIEUT. PORTER AND THREE MEN KILLED — SURPRISE AND 

SURRENDER OF CAPT. THORNTON'S COMMAND DANGER OF POINT ISABEL CAPT. 

WALKER'S RANGERS BOMBARDMENT OF MATAMORAS AND FORT BROWN — BATTLE 

OF PALO ALTO BATTLE OF RESACA DE LA PALMA OFFICIAL DESPATCHES — EFFECT 

OF THE VICTORIES TAYLOR CROSSES THE RIO GRANDE SUBSEQUENT EVENTS. 

It would be superfluous to narrate here all the circumstances connected with 
the annexation of Texas, or to give details of the difficulties with Mexico. They 
are well known to the world, and, moreover, foreign to the legitimate objects of 
this sketch. We shall, therefore, confine ourselves to those movements in which 
our hero has been personally concerned. 

On the 27th of May, 1845, the Secretary of War addressed a communication 
to General Taylor, then at Fort Jesup, Louisiana, directing him to place the 
forces under his command, and such as might subsequently be assigned to him, 
in a position where they could most promptly and efficiently act in defence of 
Texas, in case it should become necessary or proper to employ them for that 
purpose. General Taylor was instructed not to enter Texas except in pursuit of 
Indians invading that republic from the territory of the United States, and with 
the approbation of the Texan authorities. 

Taylor ordered to Texas. 

On the 15th of June, 1845, a communication was addressed to General Tay- 
lor, by Mr. Bancroft, then acting Secretary of War, informing him that on the 
4th of July then ensuing, or very soon after, the convention of the people of 
Texas would probably accept the proposition of annexation tendered by the Con- 
gress of the United States, and instructing him (General Taylor), in anticipation 
of this event, to advance to the mouth of the Sabine, or to such other point on 
the Gulf of Mexico as he might judge most convenient for an embarkation at the 
proper time for the western frontier of Texas. In this despatch the secretary 
uses the following language : " The point of your ultimate destination is the 
western frontier of Texas, where you will select and occupy, on or near the Rio 
Grande del Norte, such a site as will consist with the health of the troops, and 
will be best adapted to repel invasion, and to protect what, in the event of an- 
nexation, will be our western border. You will limit yourself to the defence 
of the territory of Texas, unless Mexico shall declare war against the United 
States." 

As was anticipated, the convention of Texas, on the 4th of July, 1845, by an 
unanimous vote, accepted the terms of annexation offered by the Congress of the 
United States. • 

Establishes his Quarters at Corpus Christi. 

About the same time General Taylor received a letter from Mr. Donaldson, our 
minister in Texas, informing him of the unanimous act of the Texan convention, 
accepting the terms of annexation proffered by Congress. On the next day after 
receiving this information he left New Orleans by steamboat, with a portion of 
his troops, for western Texas, agreeably to previous instructions, and arrived at 
St. Joseph's Island (Aransas Inlet) July 25th, and soon after established his 
quarters at Corpus Christi, on the west side of the river Neuces, near its mouth. 



20 



THE. WAR WITH MEXig 0.. 



Movements of the Mexicans. 

The Mexican minister of war, General Almonte, on the 6th of March, 1845, 
at Washington, had protested against the annexation of Texas, demanded his 
passports, abruptly left the United States, and the functions of our minister in 
Mexico were put an end to. General Almonte, the Secretary of War, and Gen- 
eral Paredes, at Mexico, announced that he was " preparing for the Texas cam- 
paign." Accordingly, loans were raised, and large bodies of troops moved to 
Texas. The public journals of Matamoras, the city of Mexico, and Vera Cruz, 
announced the war; all unattached officers of the Mexican troops were ordered 
to their army on the Bravo for the invasion of Texas ; and it was said the Mex- 
ican war establishment was to be increased to sixty thousand men. General 
Arista, suspected of good will to this country, was superseded in command by 
General Ampudia on the Texas frontier, who arrived at Matamoras on the 11th 
of April, 1846, with 200 cavalry, followed by 2000 men of his reinforcement not 
far behind, on their way to join the 2000 soldiers already at Matamoras. As 
soon as he arrived there, he ordered, on the 12th of April, General Taylor to 
evacuate the posts he held, and all Americans, with their consul, to quit 
Matamoras. 

Taylor marches to the Rio Grande. 

General Taylor, with his army, left Corpus Christi for the Rio Grande, be- 
tween the 8th and 11th of March, and arrived at his encampment opposite Mat- 
amoras March 28th. On his march he was met at two or three points, particu- 
larly on the banks of the Sal Colorado, or Colorado creek, by Mexican troops, 
but offered them no molestation. When, however, they threatened to dispute 
his passage by force of arms, he warned them that it would be at their peril. 
When he arrived at Point Isabel he was met by a deputation of 50 armed citi- 
zens, with some functionary at their head, who presented him a paper, protest- 
ing against his occupying the country. The General did not stop to discuss 
the matter with them, but told them very concisely, " He would give them an 
answer when he reached Matamoras." He had the Point surveyed with a 
view to its defence, and a work was thrown up under the superintendence of 
Capt. Saunders of the Engineers. 

About 11 o'clock on the morning of the 28th, he reached the river, opposite 
the city of Matamoras ; hundreds of persons were discovered on the opposite 
banks, watching the approach of the hostile army. The Mexican colors were 
flying from the quarters of the commander, Gen. Mejia, from the Place d'Artil- 
lerie, and from the quarters of the Sappers and Miners. Two of the advanced 
guard of the Dragoons, being some distance from the main body, were pounced 
upon by a party of Mexicans and carried off prisoners to Matamoras ; a little 
bugler boy was dismounted, and his horse taken from him. Gen. Worth was 
deputed by Gen. Taylor, to open communications with the commander of the 
Mexican forces, and bear to him an answer to the above mentioned deputation. 
It was some time before the Mexicans would send a boat over. At last one 
came, and Gen. Worth communicated with a General of the Mexican forces. 
He returned to his chief, who sent, as an answer, that he would neither receive 
Gen. Worth nor the communication of Gen. Taylor. Another talk was held 
and the answer to it was, that Gen. Mejia would receive the communication, 
but not Gen. Worth. He however sent his second in command, Gen. De La 
Vega, to meet him. Gen. W. crossed, and they met on the opposite side 
Their interview resulted in nothing. Gen. W. could not effect an interview 
with Gen. Mejia. They spoke of the arrival of the American forces as an acl 
of invasion ; and esteemed it as such, and asked the question, " What we would 
have done if we had been served so ?" 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



21 



Gen. Worth did not touch the subject of the taking of the dragoons, leaving 
that subject until after a friendly interview should be established. 

Immediately after the arrival of our army, a flag staff was erected, and soon 
thereafter the glorious stars and stripes were seen floating on the banks of the 
Rio Grande, proclaiming in a silent but impressive manner, that the " area of 
freedom" was again extended. Tn his interview with Gen. Worth, Gen. De 
la Vega complained of the elevation of the American flag. Gen. W. told him 
11 it was a matter of taste, but that no sight was so glorious to him as that of the 
flag of his country floating in the breeze." Subsequently to this, Gen. Taylor 
demanded the return of the dragoons who were captured, and they were return- 
ed, with nearly all their equipments. They had been imprisoned, but treated 
with much kindness. When the order for their return was given, there was 
considerable difficulty in collecting their effects ; it appears they had been divid- 
ed among the captors, and were to be kept as trophies. 

By the 8th of April a small field-work had been completed, in which were 
mounted four eighteen pounders. In the mean time the troops were actively 
engaged in trowing up a field work of six bastion fronts, calculated "to hold two 
regiments. 

On the 12th, about 2 P. M., a parley was sounded from the opposite side, and 
two Mexican officers crossed, and were escorted by Capt. B. to Gen. Taylor's 
tent. The officers bore a communication from Gen. Ampudia to Gen. Taylor. 
The General was told that " he must quit his position in twenty-four hours, and 
retire to the Neuces, and there await the settlement of this question by negotia- 
tion, in default of which, Mexico would look upon his position as a declaration 
of war." He said " that the war should be carried on agreeably to the usages 
of the most civilized nations, by him, and he hoped it would be so by us." Ev- 
ery disposition was immediately made to resist the attack. The 1st Brigade 
was immediately moved to the right out of reach of shot. Gen. Taylor replied 
to the messengers, that he did not want twenty-four hours, but would reply to 
them at 10 A. M. on the 12th. 

On the morning of the 13th, the 2d Brigade was moved to the left, out of 
reach of shot, and the 3d Brigade, with Lieut. Duncan's and Bragg's Companies 
of Artillery, occupied the field-work. At 10, Gen. Taylor's answer was sent 
over. It was mild, dignified, concise and firm — perfectly characteristic of the 
man. He told Gen. A. "that he was sent here by order of his Government, in 
a peaceable attitude, and intended to remain — and then warned him against as- 
suming the responsibility of firing the first gun." Gen. Taylor now blockaded 
the river, and thus cut off their supplies. 

On the 22d Gen. Ampudia wrote in effect to Gen. Taylor, " that he had un- 
derstood from undoubted authority, that the river was blockaded, that two vessels 
laden with stores for his army, had been seized and carried into Brazos Santiago. 
That he thought this blockade, under the present circumstances, was unautho- 
rized by the law of nations, and requested him to raise it, or serious consequences 
would ensue." Gen. Taylor replied in his manly and characteristic style, re- 
viewing everything that had occurred since his departure from Corpus Christi. 
Spoke of the order he had issued just prior to his departure, in which he said 
that he " would protect the civil and religious rights of the citizens," reminded 
him that a Spanish translation had been sent to Matamoras, and that he knew 
Gen. Meija had seen it : he stated that on his march his advance was met some 
twenty miles from the Colorado, and were warned that if they advanced it would 
be considered a " declaration of war ;" at the Colorado they threatened to fire 
upon him, and again repeated the " declaration of war ;" — that at Point Isabel, 
ihe was met by a deputation, at the head of which was the Prefect of the State 
of Tamaulipas, from Matamoras, protesting against his occupying the country, 
and again repeating the " declaration of war." After delivering the protest they 



22 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



set fire to some houses, which act the General looked upon as an " act of war.'* 
Opposite Matamoras he was again told his occupation of the country was looked 
upon as " an act of war." To all these declarations of hostile intentions Gen. 
Taylor paid no heed, but pursued the peaceful tenor of his way. But, when 
Gen. Ampudia arrived, and gave him " 24 hours' notice to quit," he deemed it 
time to turn his attention to them, and conceived " that the blockade of the river 
was the least offensive act of war that he could have committed, under the cir- 
cumstances ; that the blockade had been reported to the Government, and that 
he should maintain it until he received their orders. He offered them an armis- 
tice until this question was settled or war declared, and if that was accepted he 
would raise the blockade, but on no other terms. He told him that he could not 
pass over the objectionable style and tone of his (A.'s) correspondence — that the 
epithets of ' usurpers,' * invaders,' &c, would not pass, and told him plainly, 
that in future his communications must be more respectful, or they would not be 
received ; and in concluding-, gave him his choice of action, and told him that 
he w T as equally ready and prepared for peace or war." 

Murder of Colonel Cross. 

Colonel Cross, who was commissary general of the army, was in the daily 
habit of riding alone a short distance from the camp. On the morning of the 
10th of April, he rode out, unaccompanied, to the house of a German, about two 
miles from the army, and was taken prisoner by a party of Mexican Rancheros. 
As soon as he was missing, General Taylor sent a detachment of men, who 
scoured the country in search of him, but to no purpose. 

Two or three days after, Captain May, of the 2d Dragoons, took a runaway 
negro in the neighborhood of the same place where Colonel Cross was captured, 
and from this negro the above information of the taking of Colonel Cross was 
obtained. Immediately after, General Taylor sent a messenger to the Mexican 
general, requesting information whether Colonel Cross was a prisoner with him 
or not. The next day General Ampudia sent several officers to the American 
camp, with the answer that they knew nothing of Colonel Cross, but that they 
had made Lieutenant Deas a prisoner. 

This officer, it appears, had previously crossed the river (but without orders) 
in search of Colonel Cross (who was his particular friend), and had fallen into 
the hands of the Mexicans. Subsequently the body of Colonel Cross was found 
about four miles below the camp, entirely stripped, and from the wounds, it was 
evident that he had been murdered. Under this impression, General Taylor 
made a formal demand for the murderer, but he was never discovered. The 
body of the gallant soldier was taken to the camp and buried with appropriate 
honors. 

Lieutenant Porter and Three Men Killed. 

Another annoying act of Mexican hostility occurred on the 19th, all conspiring 
to prepare the American soldiers for the brilliant successes which were soon to 
follow. On the morning of the 19th, Lieutenant Porter, of the 4th Regiment 
(son of the late Commodore Porter), being out with a fatigue party of ten men, 
were fired upon when within a few miles of the camp. Lieutenant Porter and 
three of his men were killed in the attack, the rest of the party escaping return- 
ed to the camp the next day. 

General Taylor's camp extended about four miles along the river bank — two 
miles above, and two miles below Matamoras. The entrenchment, to erect 
which required twenty-three hundred men for thirty days, was made of sand, 
and covered over with twigs woven together like basket-work, surrounded by a 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



23 



very wide and deep ditch. The walls of the magazine, in the interior of the 
fortification, were formed of pork barrels filled with sand, seven tier thick, four 
tier high, covered over with timber, on which sand was piled ten or twelve feet. 
Twelve heavy pieces of ordnance were so placed as to command the town of 
Matamoras. 

Surprise and Surrender of Capt. Thornton's Command. 

On the evening of the 23d of April, Gen. Taylor's spies brought in intelli- 
gence to the effect that about 2,500 Mexicans had crossed the Rio Grande to the 
Texas side above the American Fort, and that about 1500 of the same had 
crossed below. 

Gen. T. immediately dispatched a squadron of dragoons to each place of 
crossing for the purpose of reconnoitering them and ascertaining their position. 
The squadron ordered belov; was in command of Capt. Ker, the one above was 
commanded by Capt. Thornton and composed of Capt. Hardee, Lieuts. Kane 
and Mason, with sixty-one privates and non-commissioned officers. 

The former commander, Capt. Ker, on arriving at the point where it was 
supposed they had crossed found that the report was false, that they had not 
crossed there but had all crossed above, which was afterwards proved by Capt. 
T.'s command being surprised, in which Lieut. Geo. Mason with nine men 
were killed and two wounded. 

The wounded were sent to Gen. Taylor's camp, the army having no hospital 
in the field. Capts. Thornton, Hardee and Lieut. Kane miraculously escaped, 
together with the balance of the non-commissioned officers and men, but were 
captured and taken to Matamoras. 

The circumstances which led to the surprise are these: After Capt. Thorn- 
ton's command had proceeded up the Rio Grande about twenty-four miles, and 
as was supposed, to within about three miles of the Mexican camp, the guide 
refused to go any farther, and stated for his reason that the whole country was 
infested with Mexicans. 

Capt. Thornton however, proceeded on with his command about two miles 
when he came to a farm-house, which was enclosed entirely by a chap irral 
fence, with the exception of that portion of it which bordered on the river, and 
this was so boggy as to be impassable. Capt. T. entered this enclosure through 
a pair of bars, and approached the house for the purpose of making some inqui- 
ry, his command following him. When they had all entered the enclosure, the 
enemy having been concealed in the chaparral, about two thousand five hundred 
in number, completely surrounded him and commenced firing upon his com- 
mand. He then wheeled his command, thinking that he could charge through 
the enemy and pass out where he had entered, not however without a conside- 
rable loss. This he attempted, but did not succeed, the enemy being too strong. 

At th's instant, Capt. Hardee approached him for the purpose of advising 
him how to extricate themselves. The fire of the enemy still continuing, Capt. 
Thornton's horse, having received a shot, ran away with him and leaped the 
chaparral fence and plunged into a precipice, where he fell, with Capt. T. under 
him, where the latter remained insensible for five or six hours. 

This casualty placed Capt. Hardee in command, who attempted with the 
residue to make his escape by the river, intending on arriving at its margin to 
swim it. Tn this he failed, finding it so boafgy that he could not get to it. He 
then returned, taking the precaution to get out of distance of musketrv, dis- 
mounted and examined the arms of his men, determining to sell their lives as 
dearly as possible. 

Before he had succeeded, however, in the insDection of his arms, a Mexican 
officer rode up and asked him to surrender. Capt. H. replied that he would 



24 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



surrender on one condition, which was, that if the Mexican General would 
receive them as prisoners of war, and treat them as the most civilized nations 
do, he would surrender, but on no other conditions. 

The Mexican officer bore this message to the General commanding, and 
returned with the assurance that he would. Capt. H. then surrendered. 

Danger of Point Isabel. 

Whilst General Taylor was thus busily engaged in fortifying his camp oppo- 
site Matamoras, the danger of his situation was hourly increasing. All commu- 
nication between Point Isabel and the American entrenchments, opposite Mata- 
moras, had been cut off; and the Mexicans were in force upon either flank and 
in the rear of the army. Though the field works of General Taylor were so 
scientifically constructed that there was not any apprehension that they could be 
carried by storm, yet the posture of affairs was very unsatisfactory. 

The army was surrounded by numerous bodies of troops ; the enemy was be- 
ing reinforced by daily acquisitions ; several companies of Americans, sent out 
upon scouting service, had been cut to pieces or captured ; in every encounter 
the United States had suffered ; it was feared that Point Isabel had been carried 
by overwhelming numbers, and serious apprehensions were fast gaining upon 
the public mind for the safety of the entire army. 

Had Point Isabel been carried, there would have been abundant grounds for 
all the alarm that was felt. The supplies of the army would have been entirely 
cut off, and a position necessary to the efficiency of military operations upon the 
Rio Grande would have been in possession of the enemy ; the entrenchments 
thrown up by the American soldiery would have been available for the Mexican 
defence, and our transports entering the Laguna del Madre might have been in- 
tercepted by the guns of the foe. 

Captain Walker's Rangers. 

On the 28th of April, Captain Walker, with a small force of rangers, left 
Point Isabel to reconnoitre, and, if possible, open a communication with General 
Taylor. He had proceeded as far as about midway between Point Isabel and 
the Camp, when an overwhelming Mexican force approached suddenly. A 
portion of his troops were raw recruits, he instructed them to keep on his right 
and gave orders to the whole to retire under cover of the chaparral in view, but 
his raw troops, panic-stricken, scattered in confusion. 

The Mexicans advancing with overwhelming numbers, he gave orders to re- 
tire. He was followed until within a mile of Point Isabel, where he arrived 
with only two of his men ; six others subsequently came in. 

At this juncture, General Taylor resolved to march to the relief of that post, 
however dangerous the enterprise might prove. He thought he would have to 
cut his way through a numerous enemy, posted advantageously upon the route ; 
but, as a military man, he saw the necessity of the Point to his army, and de- 
termined, at whatever hazard, to reach it. Accordingly, on the 1st, the defences 
on the river being nearly completed, General Taylor left a garrison of some 500 
men under Major Brown, of the 7th Infantry, and marched with the remainder 
of his army (twenty-seven miles) to Point Isabel. Not an enemy was seen in 
the whole distance. All apprehensions for the safety of that depot of supplies 
were thus dissipated. 

Bombardment of Matamoras and Fort Brown. 

On Sunday morning, the 3rd, about day break, the Mexicans, taking advan- 
tage of Gen. Taylor's absence, opened a heavy cannonading upon the American 
fort, throwing balls and shells with little intermission, until near midnight. In 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



25 



the meantime, the enemy's guns, all but one mortar, were silenced by our fort. 
Major Brown lost one sergeant, who was shot in the head by a 3 pound ball ; 
he was taken to the hospital, and there a shell fell and blew off the remainder of 
his head. By the explosion of another shell, an artillery soldier was wounded. 

Early on the morning of the 4th, the Mexicans opened again, sending shot 
and shells, but without doing any material damage. In half an hour after the 
firing commenced, Maj. Brown's artillery had silenced the enemy, having greatly 
damaged three of their embrasures, dismounted several guns, and killed a num- 
ber of the men. Early next morning, the fire was recommenced from the ene- 
my's batteries, which was promptly returned from an 18 pounder battery, and a 
six pounder howitzer. The firing continued for an hour ; during which time 
the enemy fired about fifty rounds of shots and shells, and received thirty rounds 
of both calibre. Both batteries ceased firing at the same time. The Mexicans 
now concluded to alter their plan of attack; for which purpose a party was sent 
in the rear, and there established a battery. At 5 o'clock, the following morn- 
ing, the cannonade commenced from the lower fort and mortar battery. Round 
shot and shells were thrown until six o'clock, when there was a cessation of 
firing. During the hour their missiles were well directed, bursting in all di 
rections in the interior of the fort, tearing the tents to pieces, and injuring seve- 
ral horses. At half-past six o'clock the signal 18-pounders were fired, at which 
the enemy opened their batteries in our front and rear, and the cannonade con- 
tinued from two mortars and a howitzer in front, and a mortar established at or 
near the cross-roads in rear until ten o'clock, A. M., when the gallant com- 
mander, Major Brown, received a mortal wound from a falling shell. Large 
mounted parties and infantry were seen at this time in the rear. At 7 o'clock 
the enemy had one mortar playing upon the fort from town, and two from the 
rear. At ten o'clock a small party of infantry crept up a ravine and fired mus- 
ketry ; but, being out of range, the fire was not returned. At half-past 10 o'clock. 
A. M., several parties of infantry and mounted men were seen surrounding us 
in rear. Several rounds of canister were fired from Lieutenant Bragg's battery, 
which soon dispersed them. Immediately afterwards, and until half-past twelve 
o'clock, P. M., our gallant band received a continual shower of shells from the 
enemy's batteries. About two o'clock the firing ceased, and at half-past four a 
white flag was shown in the rear, and a parley sounded by the enemy. Two 
Mexican officers advanced, and were met by two American officers. They bore 
a letter from Gen. Arista, asking the American commander, " for the sake of 
humanity," to surrender, and gave him one hour to reply. 

Captain Hawkins, who had assumed the command, since the death of the 
lamented Brown, received the communication, and immediately convoked a 
council, consisting of all the company commanders in his command, and laid it 
before them. They unanimously concurred with Capt. Hawkins, to decline a 
surrender of his forces, and immediately despatched the laconic answer, that 
they did not understand Spanish. Shortly after its reception, the enemy's bat- 
teries opened afresh with a continual shower of shot and shells until sunset, *>nd 
thus ended the fourth day's bombardment. 

The enemy's batteries were again opened at half past five the next morning, 
and continued throwing shot and shells with frequent intermissions until 2 
o'clock P. M., when small parties of infantry commenced the attack with mus- 
ketry from the banks of the river, and from the ravine ; this kind of warfare 
was kept up until near daylight the next morning. During this day the enemy 
succeeded in wounding a sentinel in the arm, and destroying a few hundred 
dollars' worth of camp property. 

The bombardment during the last two days was more spirited and exciting 
than the preceding, and is so graphically described by Capt. Hawkins, who was 
then in command, that we present it to the reader as found in his official report 



26 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



Friday, May 8. — At a quarter past 5 o'clock A. M., the enemy's batteries 
again opened with shells from the lower fort, from the sand-bag battery, and 
from our rear. The fire this morning was kept up until 8 o'clock, A. M. with- 
out cessation. A party was sent out this morning, and burnt the old houses 
near the traverse on the river bank. This drew from them several round shot 
and shells; from 12 to half past 2 P. M., a heavy bombardment of shells was 
kept up ; at least fifty thrown at us during that time. At half past three they 
again opened their shells upon us, accompanied by round shot. At this time 
the enemy had established a mortar in the ridge of chaparral across the river, 
and immediately west of us. Mortars were now playing upon us from the 
north, south, and west, four in number. The firinq- of round shot was kept up 
for two hours, and that of shells until half past 7 P. M. About half past 2 P. 
3VL, a heavy cannonading was heard, supposed to be a little north of east of 
us; it apparently approiched until half past 4, when it became very distinct; it 
lasted until nearly 7 P. M. This we supposed to be an action between our 
forces and the enemy. A little before sunset a Mexican came running in with 
a white flag, from the direction of the second brigade guard-house, claiming 
protection. He stated that our forces had come in contact with those of the 
enemy; had driven them back; that he was a prisoner in charge of the picket 
guards fired on by our batteries, that while they were burying the dead and 
carrying off the wounded, he effected his escape. During the cannonade this 
afternoon, a small column of infantry from above, and one of cavalry from be- 
low, were seen advancing, supposed to be reinforcements to the enemy. The 
excitement in our command, during this distant cannonading, was intense. 
During the day we received from one hundred and fifty to two hundred shells, 
and from seventy-five to one hundred round shot, and not a man disabled. 
During the previous night, the halliards of the flag on the outside had become 
unrigged; and as the firing had become too intense to re-establish them, a tem- 
porary staff was erected on the inside, and the national flag of the seventh infan- 
try raised as a substitute. We passed a very quiet night ; the troops on the 
alert at their guns. 

Saturday, May 9. — An officer of the seventh succeeded in lowering the top- 
mast of the flag staff, and rigging the halliards, but found he could not raise it 
again without great labor and exposure ; he therefore lashed it in position and 
raised the national flag, after having stood a succession of round shot, cannister, 
and shells, from the enemy's batteries for fifteen or twenty minutes. At 10 
o'clock, a sergeant and ten men fired the houses on the road which had been 
successively occupied by our own and the enemy's pickets. It brought a heavy 
discharge of shells, cannister and round shot, from the enemy's batteries. 
Shells, with slight intervals, continued until half-past 2 o'clock, P. M. ; the 
mortar on our west silent, and one firing from a position between us and the 
fort, at the upper ferry ; it was much further off, but fired accurately. Two P. 
M., Major Brown died, and in a short time we heard the re-engagement 
between the armies. Quarter to six, quite a number of Mexican cavalry and a 
few infantry were seen in the retreat. At this time we received a heavy fire of 
round shot and shells. From the time the battle commenced, and continued to 
increase, an eighteen pounder and six pounder were fired in the direction of the 
upper ferry ; when, finding it difficult to distinguish between friend and foe, the 
firing was discontinued, not again to be resumed*" The engagement continued 
for seven days, during most of which time a number of men under the direction 
of Capt. Mansfield, was engaged night and day in completing the works ; the 
fire of the enemy not for a moment arresting the progress of their operations, 
and notwithstanding the large number of shot and shells thrown by the enemy, 
the American loss was but two killed, Major Brown, and Sergeant Weigart, 
and thirteen wounded. 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



We must now leave the fort so gallantly defended, and follow Gen. Taylor 
in his progress to and from Point Isabel. 

Battle of Palo Alto. 

Gen. Taylor having relieved Point Isabel, the main body of the army of 
occupation marched out under his immediate orders on the evening of the 7th 
of May, and bivouacked about seven miles from that place. 

Our march, says the General in his official despatch, was resumed the following morning. 
About noon, when our advance of cavalry had reached the water-hole of " Palo Alto," the 
Mexican troops were reported in our front, and were soon discovered occupying the road in 
force. I ordered a halt upon reaching the water, with a view to rest and refresh the men, 
and to form deliberately our line of battle. The Mexican line was now plainly visible 
across the prairie, and about three quarters of a mile distant. Their left, which was com- 
posed of a heavy force of cavalry, occupied the road, resting upon a thicket of chaparral, 
while masses of infantry were discovered in succession on the right, greatly outnumbering 
our own force. 

Our line of battle was now formed in the following order, commencing on the extreme 
right : — 5th infantry, commanded by Lieut. Col. Mcintosh ; Major Ringgold's artillery ; 3d 
infantry, commanded by Capt. L. N. Morris, two 18-pounders, commanded by Lieut. 
Churchill, 3d artillery ; 4th infantry, commanded by Major G. W. Allen ; the 3d and 4th 
regiments composed the third brigade, under command of Lieut. Col. Garland ; and all the 
above corps, together with two squadrons of dragoons under Captains Ker and May, com- 
posed the right wing, under the orders of Col. Twiggs. The left was formed by the bat- 
talion of artillery commanded by Lieut. Col. Childs, Capt. Duncan's light artillery, and the 
8th infantry, under Capt. Montgomery — all forming the first brigade, under command of 
Lieut. Col. Belknap. The train was packed near the water, under direction of Captains 
Crossman and Myers, and protected by Capt. Ker's squadron. 

At 2 o'clock we took up the march by heads of columns, in the direction of the enemy — 
the 18-pounder battery following the road. While the columns were advancing, Lieut. 
Blake, topographical engineers, volunteered a reconnoisance of the enemy's line, which was 
handsomely performed, and resulted in the discovery of at least two batteries of artillery in 
the intervals of their cavalry and infantry. These batteries were soon opened upon us, 
when I ordered the columns halted and deployed into line, and the fire to be returned by 
all our artillery. The 8th infantry, on our extreme left, was thrown back to secure that 
flank. The first fires of the enemy did little execution, while our 18-pounders and M ijor 
Ringgold's artillery soon dispersed the cavalry which formed his left. Capt. Duncan's bat- 
tery, thrown forward in advance of the line, was doing good execution at this time. Capt. 
May's squadron was now detached to support that battery, and the left of our position. The 
Mexican cavalry, with two pieces of artillery, were now reported to be moving through 
the chaparral to our right, to threaten that flank, or make a demonstration against the train. 
The 5th infantry was immediately detached to check this movement, and supported by 
Lieut. Ridgeley, with a section of Major Ringgold's battery and Capt. Walker's company 
of volunteers, effectually repulsed the enemy— the 5th infantry repelling a charge of lan- 
cers, and the artillery doing great execution in their ranks. The 3d infantry was now de- 
tached to the right as a still further security to that flank yet threatened by the enemy. 
Major Ringgold, with the remaining section, kept up his fire from an advanced position, 
and was supported by the 4th infantry. 

The grass of the prairie had been accidentally fired by our artillery, and the volumes of 
smoke now partially concealed the armies from each other. As the enemy's left had evi- 
dently been driven back and left the road free, as the cannonade had been suspended, 1 or- 
dered forward the 18 pounders on the road nearly to the position first occupied by the Mexi- 
can cavalry, and caused the first brigade to take up a new position still on the left of the 
18 pounder battery. The 5th was advanced from its former position and occupied a point 
on the extreme right of the new line. The enemy made a change of position corresponding 
to our own, and after a suspension of nearly an hour the action was resumed. 

The fire of artillery was now most destructive— openings were constantly made through 
the enemy's ranks by our fire, and the constancy with which the Mexican infantry sustained 
this severe cannonade was a theme of universal remark and admiration. Capt. May's squa- 
dron was detached to make a demonstration on the left of the enemy's position, and suf- 
fered severely from the fire of artillery to which it was for some time exposed. The 4th 
infantry which had been ordered to support the 18 pounder battery, was exposed to a most 
galling fire of artillery, by which several men were killed and Capt. Page dangerously 
wounded. The enemy's fire was directed against our 18 pounder battery, and the guns 
vi ider Major Ringgold in its vicinity. The Major himself, while coolly directing the fire 
of his pieces, was struck by a cannon ball and mortally wounded. 



28 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



In the meantime the battalion of artillery under Lieut. Col. Childs, had been brought 
up to support the artillery on our right. A strong demonstration of cavalry was now made 
by the enemy against this part of our line, and the column continued to advance under a 
severe fire from the 18-pounders. The battalion was instantly formed in square, and held 
ready to receive the charge of cavalry, but when the advancing squadrons were within close 
range a deadly fire of cannister from the 18-pounders dispersed them. A brisk fire of small 
arms was now opened upon the square, by which one officer, Lieut. Luther, 2d artillery, 
was slightly wounded, but a well directed volley from the front of the square silenced all 
further firing from the enemy in this quarter. It was now nearly dark, and the action was 
closed on the right of our line, the enemy having been completely driven back from his po- 
sition, and foiled in every attempt against our line. 

While the above was going forward on our right and under my own eye, the enemy had 
made a serious attempt against the left of our line. Captain Duncan instantly perceived 
the movement, and by the bold and brilliant manoeuvring of his battery, completely re- 
pulsed several successive efforts of the enemy to advance in force upon our left flank. Sup- 
ported in succession by the 8th infantry and Capt. Ker's squadron of dragoons, he gallantly 
held the enemy at bay, and finally drove him, with immense loss, from the field. The 
action here and along the whole line, continued until dark, when the enemy retired into 
the chaparral in rear of his position. Our army bivouacked on the ground it occupied. 
During the afternoon the train had been moved forward about half a mile, and was packed 
in rear of the new position. 

The American force engaged in this battle, according to the field report, is 
shown to have been 2288, of whom 177 were officers. The force of the Mexi- 
cans, according to their own officers, taken prisoners on the following day, was 
at least 6000 regulars, and an unknown number of irregular troops, with 10 
pieces of artillery. Their loss was nearly 400 killed and wounded, while only 
nine Americans were killed, 44 wounded, and two missing. The death of Major 
Ringgold was a source of great regret throughout the Union, as he was one of 
our bravest and most valuable officers, and one of the most distinguished light- 
artillery commanders in the world. The wound received by Captain Page was 
horrible. His whole lower jaw was shot away, together with part of his tongue 
and palate, yet, strange to say, he survived until the 12th of July. 

It was during this battle that the Mexican artillery, perceiving General Tay- 
lor and his staff, poured in upon them a shower of cannister and grape. " Upon 
my word," says the General, " I do believe the rascals want to hit me." Very 
soon one of the officers rode up and suggested to the General that it would be 
better for him to retire to a position less exposed, " Well," said the General, who 
had been sitting all the time at his ease, with his leg over the saddle, watching 
the movements of the contending armies, " let us ride up nearer, and their balls 
will go over us." And he rode to a still more exposed point, but where he could 
have a better view of the battle. 

In his official despatch, dated May 7th, just before he left Point Isabel, he 
said, " If the enemy oppose my march, in whatever force, I shall fight him." 
The crisis demanded that he should fight, without regard to disparity of num- 
bers or consequences. His lion-heart met the crisis, and he obtained the victory 
which the brave army deserved under his gallant lead. 

Battle of Resaca de la Palma. 

The American army encamped for the night on their position. On the morn- 
ing of the 9th of May they stood to their arms again, supposing the enemy to 
be immediately in front of them, but soon found that he had made a rapid re- 
treat, leaving the ground strewed with his dead and with abandoned ammunition. 

The first care of General Taylor was to visit the wounded and see that every 
comfort was supplied — the constant and well-directed energies of the medical 
department left but little for him to do ; every one, whether officer or soldier, 
had been attended with unwearying care and watchfulness. The troops having 
partaken of their meal, the order was given to get the command under arms. 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



29 



General Taylor here summoned a council of war, composed of the heads of the 
different commands, in all thirteen, excluding the commander-in-chief. The 
General, after returning thanks for their support and bravery on the 8th, and 
wishing to be advised as to what they thought best to be done, called on each to 
give his opinion. It was then ascertained that but four out of the thirteen were 
in favor of going ahead, the other officers composing the council voted, some to 
entrench where they were, and await the assistance of the volunteers, and others 
to retire at once to Point Isabel ; but the General said, " Iivill be at Fort Brown 
before night, if I live /" 

About one, P.M., the army resumed its march. When it first halted, Cap- 
tain G. A. McCall had been sent ahead with 100 picked men to scour the chap- 
arral and watch the progress of the enemy. Captain Smith, of the Artillery, 
with his battalion of light companies of the 1st Brigade, followed. The army 
then proceeded through the chaparral till within about three miles of the Fort, 
when word was passed to the rear that the enemy were in force in front, and in 
a selected position. There was no stopping for reflection or plan. The troops 
filed past the wagons, and deployed skirmishers to the right and left of the road. 
They had hardly deployed when the heaviest fire commenced. The enemy 
were posted upon the opposite side of a ravine, their left guarded by a pond, 
with three batteries, containing in all eight pieces of artillery, established one 
on the left, one in, and one on the right of the road. Upon the General's arri- 
val, the gallant McCall was ordered to repair to the spot where his advance 
guard was first fired upon, and " draw the fire of the enemy's batteries, so that 
the General might know where to place his." That was what might be called 
a forlorn hope — they went and fearlessly drew and received their fire. 

The 5th and 8th Infantry were deployed on the left of the road and the 3d 
and 4th on the right, with orders to advance as rapidly as possible and fight the 
enemy wherever he might be. The thicket was almost impenetrable, and it was 
with the greatest difficulty that they could get through it. The Mexicans dis- 
covered or guessed at the General's disposition of his force, and poured into 
them grape and cannister shot from eight pieces of artillery, which were planted 
on the two sides of the road and entrenched upon the margin of a pond impass- 
able to men and horses. Their batteries were answered, but could not be si- 
lenced behind their entrenchments. Owing to the dense chaparral, the regi- 
ments became much mixed, but fought not the less severely. Lieutenant R. 
Ridgely advanced with his battery and threw shells and schrapnel shot among 
the enemy. The enemy clung to their batteries with the greatest pertinacity. 
The gallant Lieutenant, in one of his advances, had not yet unlimbered, when 
he was charged by a body of lancers, who came dashing down upon him like 
thunder; fortunately one of his pieces was unlimbered, and Sergeant Keanes 
put a load of cannister on top of a shell and fired it. This scattered them all 
but four, who came dashing along. Lieutenant Ridgeley charged them in per- 
son, and drove them off ; all this time the balls were rattling like hailstones. 
Captain May rode back to the General and asked if he should charge the en- 
emy's battery in the road with his squadron? " Charge, Captain, nolens vo- 
lens" was the reply, and away dashed the gallant fellow and his squadron down 
the ravine ! The enemy poured a volley of grape into them, which killed Lieu- 
tenant Inge, and swept away nearly the whole of his first platoon. On they 
went, and drove the enemy from their pieces, and captured the battery ! 

In this charge, in the front rank, were Capt. May himself, poor Inge and Lt. 
Sackett. When May gave the word "charge!" "Sackett's horse being a little 
the quickest, got the start. In the midst of a shower of grape, May said to S., 
" Sackett, that's not fair! you took the jump on me !" Lt. Sackett's horse 
was almost at that moment shot, and fell with him into a water hole. He fell 



30 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



upon the Lieutenant who with great difficulty disengaged himself with the loss 
of his sword. He took another horse and sword from a dragoon, and again, 
joined in the fight. 

Gen. Vega was fighting in person at the Mexican batteries, and was just in 
the act of touching off a cannon when taken prisoner by May. 

The 5th and 8th Infantry were then ordered to advance (being the nearest to 
the enemy's batteries) and bring ofT the pieces, but the enemy had regained them, 
and a desperate conflict hand to hand ensued, which lasted half an hour, when 
the Mexicans began to give back, and left the Americans in possession of their 
guns. At this time the whole of the Infantry became engaged, and the action 
continued almost without cessation until sunset, when the enemy were driven 
across the Rio Grande. There were many feats of personal daring during the 
action. Lt. Lincoln of the 8th, was ordered to charge into the chaparral w r here 
the Mexican infantry were lodged, and were pouring a most destructive fire upon 
our men as they advanced along the road. Lincoln charged upon the chapar- 
ral with the bayonet at the head of his company. In the thickest of the fight 
he saw Lieut. Jordan of another company, to whom he was much attached, 
wounded upon the ground, and a Mexican standing over him with his musket 
raised in the act of stabbing Jordan with his bayonet, Lincoln sprang forward, 
and the Mexican seeing him, his bayonet was turned aside a little, and passed 
through Jordan's arm instead of his breast, at which the blow was aimed. At the 
same instant Lincoln's sword cleft the Mexican's skull. Another Mexican in- 
stantly made a pass with his bayonet at Lincoln, but he jumped aside and as the 
Mexican passed forward, Lincoln's sword was buried in his skull. Other Mex- 
icans rushed in, and Lincoln and his sergeant despatched three more of them on 
the spot, in a fight hand to hand. 

Corporal Farrel, of the 4th Infantry, with ten men, came up to Lt. Hays of 
the 4th, and exclaimed, — " Lieutenant, if we had an officer to lead us, we ivould 
take that piece /" referring to one which was pouring the " leaded messengers 
of death " into his brave comrades. " You shall not say you had no officer to lead 
you, Corporal, follow me!" was the reply of the fearless Hays; and away they 
dashed and stormed the battery, and took it. 

An officer of infantry, perceiving his men were firing with great rapidity, but 
not with sufficiently good aim as he thought, called out to them — " Be careful 
and not waste your ammunition. Take good aim and never miss your man. 
Remember, I have given a receipt for every one of these cartridges !" Pretty 
soon they charged into the chaparral, when they met the enemy face to face. 
One of the men charged upon a Mexican, and as he ran him through with his 
bayonet, he roared out — " Captain, look here — I have saved one cartridge !" 

Innumerable instances among the men of desperate courage prove how deter- 
mined was the army to conquer or die. 

The order was now given to pursue the enemy, and on went the brave troops, 
yelling and firing, with the Mexicans in full run before them, until they reached 
the river, and found the General officers and cavalry had outrun them, and the 
remainder of the Mexican army dispersed through the chaparral. As soon as 
the route of the enemy was reported to Gen. Taylor, he ordered the troops to 
return and encamp upon the field of battle. Thus ended the day, in the most 
brilliant victory of the age. Hearing of the action of the 8th, the commanding 
General in Matamoras had sent over, to reinforce Arista, two veteran regiments 
numbering upwards of a thousand men, who had been in twenty battles and never 
lost one — so that in the action of the 9th the American army were opposed by 
7000, or nearly that. Col. Child's battalion having been left with the baggage 
waggons, was not in the action. There was also a detachment sent that morn- 
ing with the train to Point Isabel — reducing Gen. Taylor's force engaged to 
something under 1800 men. 



THE WAR WITH 



31 



The following is Gen. Taylor's despatch, giving a detailed account of this 
battle : 

Head-quarters Army of Occupation, 

Camp near Fort Brown, Texas, May 17, 1846. 

Sir : In submitting a more minute report of the affair of " Resaca de la Palma," I have 
the honour to state that early in the morning of the 9th inst., the enemy who had encamped 
near the field of battle of the day previous, was discovered moving by his left flank, evi- 
dently in retreat ; and perhaps at the same time to gain a new position on the road to Mat- 
amoras, and there again resist our advance. 

I ordered the supply train to be strongly packed at its position, and left with it four pieces 
of artillery — the two 18 pounders which had done such good service on the previous day — 
and two 12 pounders which had not been in the action. The wounded officers and men were 
at the same time sent back to Point Isabel. I then moved forward with the columns to the 
edge of the chaparral or forest, which extends to the Rio Grande, a distance of seven miles. 
The light companies of the 1st brigade, under Captain C. F. Smith, 2d artillery, and a select 
detachment of light troops ; the whole under the command of Captain McCall, 4th infantry, 
were thrown forward into the chaparral, to feel the enemy and ascertain his position. About 
three o'clock, I received a report from the advance, that the enemy was in position on the 
road with at least two pieces of artillery. The command was immediately put in motion, 
and at about four o'clock I came up with Captain McCall, who reported the enemy in force 
in our front, occupying a ravine which intersects the road and is skirted by thickets of dense 
chaparral. Ridgely's battery and the advance under Captain McCall were at once thrown 
forward on the road, and into the chaparral on either side, while the 5th infantry and one 
wing of the 4th were thrown into the forest on the left, and the 3d and the other wing of the 
4th, on the right of the road. These corps were employed as skirmishers to cover the bat- 
tery and engage the Mexican infantry. Captain McCall's command became at once engaged 
with the enemy, while the light artillery, though in a very exposed position, did great ex- 
ecution. The enemy had at least eight pieces of artillery, and maintained an incessant fire 
upon our advance. 

The action now became general, and although the enemy's infantry gave way before the 
steady fire and resistless progress of our own, yet his artillery was still in position to check 
our advance — several pieces occupying the pass across the ravine, which he had chosen for 
his position. Perceiving that no decisive advantage could be gained until this artillery was 
silenced, I ordered Captain May to charge the batteries with his squadron of dragoons. 
This was gallantly and effectually executed, the enemy was driven from his guns, and Gen- 
eral La Vega, who remained alone at one of the batteries, was taken prisoner. The squa- 
dron, which suffered much in this charge, not being immediately supported by infantry, 
could not retain possession of the artillery taken, but it was completely silenced. In the 
meantime, the 8th infantry had been ordered up, and had become warmly engaged on the 
right of the road. This regiment, and a part of the 5th, were now ordered to charge the 
batteries, which was handsomely done, and the enemy entirely driven from his artillery and 
his position on the left of the road. 

The light companies of the 1st brigade, and the 3d and 4th regiments of infantry, had 
been deployed on the right of the road, where, at various points, they became briskly en- 
gaged with the enemy. A small party under Captain Buchanan and Lieutenants Wood and 
Hays, 4th infantry, composed chiefly of men of that regiment, drove the enemy from a breast- 
work which he occupied, and captured a piece of artillery. An attempt to recover this piece 
was repelled by Captain Barbour, 3d infantry. The enemy was at last completely driven from 
his position on the right of the road, and retreated precipitately, leaving baggage of every 
description. The 4th infantry took possession of a camp where the head-quarters of the 
Mexican general-in-chief were established. All his official correspondence was captured 
at this place. 

The artillery battalion (excepting the flank companies) had been ordered to guard the 
baggage train, which was packed some distance in rear. That battalion was now ordered 
up to pursue the enemy, and with the 3d infantry, Captain Ker's dragoons, and Captain Dun- 
can's battery, followed him rapidly to the river, making a number of prisoners. Great num- 
bers of the enemy were drowned in attempting to cross the river near the town. The corps 
last mentioned, encamped near the river, the remainder of the army on the field of battle. 

The strength of outmarching force on this day, as exhibited in the annexed field report, 
was 173 officers, and 2049 men — aggregate, 2222. The actual number engaged with the en- 
emy did not exceed 1700. Our loss was three officers killed and twelve wounded ; thirty- 
six men killed and seventy-one wounded. Among the officers killed, I have to regret the 
loss of Lieutenant Inge, 2d dragoons, who fell at the head of his platoon, while gallantly 
charging the enemy's battery ; of Lieutenant Cochrane, of the 5th, and Lieutenant Chad- 
bourne, of the 8th infantry, who likewise met their death in the thickest of the fight. The 
officers wounded were Lieutenant-Colonel Payne, Inspector General; Lieutenant Dobbins, 



32 



THE WAR WITH 



3d infantry, serving with the light infantry advance, slightly ; Lieutenant-Colonel Mcin- 
tosh, 5th infantry, severely (twice) ; Captain Hooe, 5th infantry, severely (right arm since 
amputated) ; Lieutenant Fowler 5th infantry, slightly ; Captain Montgomery, 8th infantry, 
slightly ; Lieutenants Gates and Jordan, 8th infantry, severely (each twice) ; Lieutenants 
Selden, Maclay, Burbank, and Morris, 8th infantry, slightly. A statement of the killed and 
wounded is annexed herewith. 

I have no accurate data from which to estimate the enemy's force on this day. He is 
known to have been reinforced after the action of the 8th, both by cavalry and infantry, and 
no doubt to an extent at least equal to his loss on that day. It is probable that 600U men 
were opposed to us, and in a position chosen by themselves, and strongly defended with ar- 
tillery. The enemy's loss was very great. Nearly 200 of his dead were buried by us on the 
day succeeding the battle. His loss in killed, wounded, and missing, in the two affairs of 
the 8th and 9th, is, I think, moderately estimated at 1000 men. 

Our victory has been decisive. A small force has overcome immense odds of the best 
troops that Mexico can furnish — veteran regiments perfectly equipped and appointed. 
Eight pieces of artillery, several colors and standards, a great number of prisoners, inclu- 
ding fourteen officers, and a large amount of baggage and public property have fallen into 
our hands. 

The causes of victory are doubtless to be found in the superior quality of our officers and 
men. I have already, in former reports, paid a general tribute to the admirable conduct of 
the troops on both days. It now becomes my duty — and I feel it to be one of great delicacy 
— to notice individuals. In so extensive a field as that of the 8th, and in the dense cover 
where most of the action of the 9th was fought, I could not possibly be witness to more 
than a small portion of the operations of the various corps ; and I must, therefore, depend 
upon the reports of subordinate commanders, which I respectfully enclose herewith. 

Colonel Twiggs, the second in command, was particularly active on both days in execut- 
ing my orders, and directing the operations of the right wing. Lieut-Colonel Mcintosh, 
commanding the 5th infantry, Lieut. -Colonel Garland, commanding the 3d brigade, Lieut. 
Colonel Belknap, commanding the 1st brigade, Lieut. Colonel-Childs, commanding the artil- 
lery battalion, Major Allen, Captains L. N. Morris and Montgomery, commanding respec- 
tively the 4th, 3d, and 8th regiments of infantry, were zealous in the performance of their 
duties and gave examples to their commands of cool and fearless conduct. Lieut. Colonel 
Mcintosh repulsed with his regiment a charge of lancers in the action of Palo Alto, and 
shared with it in the honors and dangers of the following day, being twice severely wounded. 
Lieut-Colonel Belknap headed a charge of the 8th infantry, which resulted in driving the 
enemy from his guns, and leaving us in possession of that part of the field. 

Captain Duncan and Lieutenant Ridgely deserve especial notice for the gallant and effi- 
cient manner in which they manoeuvred and served their batteries. The impression made 
by Captain Duncan's battery upon the extreme right of the enemy's line, at the affair of Palo 
Alto, contributed largely to the result of the day ; while the terrible fire kept up by Lieut. 
Ridgley, in the affair of the 9th, inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy. The 18-pounder 
battery, which played a conspicuous part in the action of the 8th, was admirably served by 
Lieutenant Churchill, 3d artillery, assisted by Lieutenant Wood, topographical engineers. 
The charge of cavalry on the enemy's batteries on the 9th, was gallantly led by Capt. May, 
and had complete success. 

Captain McCall, 4th infantry, rendered distinguished service with the advanced corps 
under his orders. Its loss, in killed and wounded, will show how closely it was engaged. 
I may take this occasion to say that, in two former instances.. Captain McCall has rendered 
valuable service as a partisan officer. ' In this connection, I would mention the services of 
Captain Walker, of the Texas rangers, who was in both affairs with his company, and who 
has performed very meritorious service as a spy and partisan. 

I must beg leave to refer to the reports of subordinate commanders for the names of many 
officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, who were distinguished by good conduct 
on both days Instances of individual gallantry and personal conflict with the enemy were 
not wanting in the affair of the 9th, but cannot find place in a general report. The officers 
serving on the staffs of the different commanders, are particularly mentioned by them. 

I derived efficient aid on both days from all the officers of my staff. Captain Bliss, assist- 
ant adjutant general, Lieut. Col. Payne, inspector general, Lieut. Eaton, A. D. C, Captain 
Waggaman, commissary of subsistence, Lieut. Scarret, engineer, and Lieutenants Blake and 
Meade, topographical engineers, promptly conveyed my orders to every part of the field. 
Lieut Colonel Payne was wounded in the affair of the 9th, and I have already had occasion 
to report the melancholy death of Lieut. Blake, by accident, in the interval between the two 
engagements. Major Craig and Lieutenant Brereton, of the ordnance department, were 
actively engaged in their appropriate duties, and Surgeon Craig, medical director, superin- 
tended in person the arduous service of the field hospitals. I take this occasion to mention 
generally the devotion to duty of the medical staff of the army, who have been untiring in 
their exertions both in the field and in the hospitals, to alleviate the sufferings of the 
wounded of both armies. Captains Crossman and Myers of the quartermaster's department, 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



33 



who had charge of the heavy supply train at both engagements, conducted it in a most satis 
factory manner, and finally brought it up without the smallest loss, to its destination. 

I enclose an inventory of the Mexican property captured on the field, and also a sketch 
of the field of " Resaca de la Paima," and of the route from Point Isabel, made by my aid- 
de-camp, Lieutenant Eaton. One regimental color, (battalion of Tampico,) and many stand- 
ards and guidons of cavalry were taken at the affair of the 9th. I would be pleased to 
receive your instructions as to the disposition to be made of these trophies — whether they 
shall be sent to Washington, &c. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

Z. TAYLOR, 
Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A. Commanding. 

The Adjutant Genekal of the Army, Washington, D. C. 



REPORT OF COLONEL TWIGGS TO GENERAL TAYLOR. 

Head Quarters Right Wing, Army of Occupation, > 
Camp near Matamoras, May 15, 1S46. ) 

Sir — I have the honor to make the following report of the transactions of the different 
corps of the right wing of the army under my command during the actions with the enemy 
on the 8th and 9th inst. About half-past 2 P. M. on the 8th, we found ourselves at the 
Palo Alto, within one mile of the chaparral which borders the Rio Grande, and nine miles 
from the river, my command being composed of Major Ringgold's company of light artil- 
lery, two squadrons of dragoons, the 5th infantry, and the 3d and 4th infantry, composing 
the 3d brigade. 

The enemy, at the distance of about half a mile, opened their batteries on their right, 
which being immediately responded to by our two 18-pounders in charge of Lieut Churchill, 
brought on the action of the 8th inst. Major Ringgold's battery was ordered to the right 
and front of the 18-pounders, at a distance of about seven hundred yards from the enemy, 
when the battery was opened with great effect, as was shown the next day by the number 
of the enemy's dead found along his line. The infantry, in the mean time, was formed in 
the rear of the artillery, receiving with the greatest possible coolness the enemy's fire, and 
only anxious for the order to rush in and participate actively in the affair. 

A regiment of the enemy's lancers was observed to move to our right, apparently to gain 
possession of our wagon train, a few hundred yards in rear. The 5th infantry and two 
pieces of Major Ringgold's artillery, under the command of Lieut. R. Ridgely, were ordered 
to check this movement. Having gained ground to the right some four or five hundred yards, 
the 5th was formed in square to receive a charge from the lancers, who advanced to within 
fifty yards, when the opposing side of the square fired into and repulsed them, having re- 
ceived in the meantime several irregular discharges from the enemy. The lancers re-formed, 
and continued their movement to get in rear of our right flank, when I ordered the third to 
move to the right and rear around a pond of water, and prevent their progress in that direc- 
tion. Seeing their movement frustrated in this point, the lancers commenced a retreat in 
good order, marching apparently by squadrons, when First Lieut. R. Ridgely, of Major 
Ringgold's battery, assisted by Brevet 2d Lieut. French, opened a fire on them, and scattered 
them in all directions. In this affair the enemy lost some twenty-eight or thirty. 

This portion of the right wing served in about this position until the close of the action. 
In the meantime Major Ringgold, with the remaining two pieces of his battery, continued 
to play on the enemy with great success. The gallant Major was mortally wounded by a 
cannon ball towards the close of the action, and his horse shot under him at the same time. 
The army and the country will long deplore the loss of so brave and accomplished an officer. 

The 2d squadron of dragoons, commanded by Captain May, who during the day was under 
the immediate orders of the general commanding, being ordered to turn, if possible, the left 
flank of the enemy, the 4th infantry was ordered to support him. Having advanced in our 
right and front some four hundred yards under a very severe fire from two of the enemy's 
batteries, it was found that the force he had to oppose was eight or nine hundred cavalry ; 
he retired agreeably to his orders, and the 4th infantry was accordingly withdrawn. In this 
operation Capt. May's squadron had five men wounded and six horses killed, and the 4th 
infantry one man killed, one officer, (Capt. Page) mortally, and one man severely wounded. 
Night coming on, the right wing took position in front of the wagon train, and slept on their 
arms on the ground first occupied by the enemy. The perfect coolness of Lieut. Ridgely, 
and the great precision with which he fired his pieces whilst acting in concert with the 
5th, deserves notice, the last and most effective shot he having aimed himself. 

On the morning of the 9th, some of the enemy being discovered in the edge of the chap- 
arral, we advanced the 5th infantry on the right, with the 2d squadron of dragoons in front, 
Major Ringgold's battery, commanded by Lieut. Ridgely, on the left of the 5th, and the 3rd 
brigade on its left. On advancing, the enemy having retired, we entered the chaparral, and 

3 



31 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



approached to within eight hundred yards of Resaca de la Palma, where the enemy had taken 
position for fight. The advance guard having kept up a fire till our arrival, Lieut. Ridgely 
w.is ordered in front of the 5th with his battery, and having advanced cautiously to within 
about four hundred yards of their battery in the road, the enemy opened on him with grape. 
Lieut. Ridgely pushed forward rapidly about one hundred yards further, and returned their 
fire with great spirit and success, advancing on them whenever their fire slackened. At 
times the two batteries were firing cannister at each other when not more than one hundred 
yards apart. Having advanced in this manner about five hundred yards, Captain May's 
squadron was ordered to charge the enemy's guns. Dashing forward in column of fours, 
(the main road admitting of no other formation,) the squadron charged across the ravine 
through seven of the enemy's pieces, driving the gunners from them — Capt. May, with 
Lieuts. Inge, Stevens and Sackett, and the 1st and 2d platoons of the squadrons, charging 
the guns in the road and on the right of it. Captain Graham, accompanied by Lieut. Win- 
ship and Pleasonton, with the 3d and 4th platoons, leading the charge against the pieces 
on the left of the road in the ravine. Capt. May, having charged through the pieces in the 
road, rallied some six men and charged again at some of the gunners, who had regained their 
pieces, drove them off, and took Gen. Vega prisoner. In the charge, Lieut. Inge fell at the 
head of his platoon whilst leading it on gallantly, having passed through their batteries. 
Corporal McCauley was taken prisoner ; nine privates and eighteen horses were killed. 
Sergeant McMuly, nine privates, and ten horses wounded. The 4th infantry, under the 
command of Brevet Major Allen ; the 5th, commanded by Lieut. Colonel Mcintosh ; and the 
3d, commanded by Capt. S. N. Morris, retained possession of the enemy's artillery, repulsing 
at different times largely superior parties brought to bear against them, and finally Drought 
off the pieces, making several prisoners of war. After the unsurpassed, if not unequalled, 
charge of Capt. May's squadron, the enemy was unable to fire a piece. In this affair, in 
which Lieut. Inge, 2d dragoons, and Lieut. Cochrane, 4th infantry, were killed, Lieut.-Col. 
Mcintosh, Capt. Hoe, and Lieut. Dobbins were wounded, I would respectfully call the at- 
tention of the commanding-general to the gallant conduct of Col. Mcintosh, 5th, and Col, 
Garland, 4th infantry, (commanding the 3d brigade,) Lieuts. Ridgely, Shover and French, 
3d artillery ; Captains May and Graham, Lieuts. Winship, Stevens. Pleasonton and Sackett, 
2d dragoons ; and Capt. Buchanan, Lieuts Hays and Woods, 4th infantry, &c. — the latter 
two having captured a piece of artillery, defended by one hundred and fifty or two hundred, 
with but a few men. 

The enemy having been routed with great loss, this day's action closed with much honor 
to the American army, spreading terror among the Mexican people. In this action every 
officer and man performed his duty most gallantly. 

Captain Arnold and Lieutenant McDonald, 2d dragoons, my aids on the 8th and 9th inst. 
performed the several duties assigned them with promptness, coolness and courage. They 
accompanied me during the whole of the affair, except when detached carrying orders. 
The detailed account of the commander of each regiment and corps is herewith transmitted. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
D. E. TWIGGS, Col. 2d Dragoons, commanding right wing, A. D. 
Capt. W. W. S. Bliss, Assistant Adjutant General, 

Army of Occupation, camp near Matamoras, 



Camp near Matamoras, May 10, 1S46. . 

Sir : In compliance with your directions, I have the honor to report that the company 
which I now have the honor to command, took up its position in line of battle about three 
o'clock, P.M., on the afternoon of the 8th, at a distance of about 800 yards from the enemy's 
line. After receiving a few rounds of artillery, we advanced about 100 yards, where we 
opened our battery with considerable execution, as proven the next day ; but in consequence 
of their making a flank movement to our right, I was detached, with two pieces, to operate 
with the 5th infantry, who had been sent forward to oppose the movement. My section had 
already lost one man, and two horses badly wounded. As I was taking position on the right 
of the 5th, who were in square, they fired a volley from one of its faces on the enemy, 
whose cavalry had charged. I at once unlimbered and commenced firing. Very shortly I 
saw their artillery and cavalry, which latter was in large force, retiring. I am happy to 
state our fire proved effective, and the movement was frustrated. Brevet Second Lieutenant 
French had the immediate charge of one of the pieces. We continued changing position 
from point to point until dark, when we encamped. I then learned that Brevet Major Ring- 
gold, who had been with the other section, had been badly wounded. The section was 
brought up by Lieutenant Shover, who had kept it actively employed the entire afternoon. 

The following morning, about noon, I took my position in rear of the 5th infantry, on our 
way to Matamoras, marching in columns of sections wherever practicable. After having 
advanced about five miles, I was ordered to the front with my battery, and was then inform- 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



25 



ed the enemy were immediately in our front, occupying the road with their artillery. Cap- 
tain Walker, of the Texas Rangers, was sent to point out to me their exact position. After 
moving very cautiously for a short distance, I discovered them about 400 yards in advance 
in the road, and almost instantly their artillery opened. I moved rapidly to the front for 
about 100 yards, and returned their fire, which was kept up very spiritedly on both sides for 
some time, their grape shot passing through our battery in every direction. So soon as it 
slackened, I limbered up and moved rapidly forward, never unlimbering, unless seeing them 
in front, or perceiving, from the fire of their infantry, they were on my flanks. Frequently 
the several pieces fired canister on them, when not over 100 or 150 yards. After having 
advanced in this manner for about 500 yards, Captain May, 2d dragoons, rode up and said, 
" Where are they ? I am going to charge." I gave them a volley, and he most gallantly 
dashed forward in " columns of fours" at the head of his squadron. I followed as quietly as 
possible at a gallop, only halting when I came upon the edge of the ravine, where I found 
three pieces of artillery, but no cannoniers ; however, their infantry poured into me a most 
galling fire at from 25 to 50 paces ; and here ensued a most desperate struggle, but our in- 
fantry coming up, they were completely routed. Their cavalry came so near that I once 
cut at them with my sabre. I did not advance as rapidly as I desired, as I perceived it was 
not at times supported by the infantry, it being impossible for them to get through the 
chaparral. 

I cannot, sir, speak in too high terms of the gallantry and coolness of my officers, and the 
behaviour of my non-commissioned officers and men generally ; and respectfully beg leave 
to call the attention of higher authorities to the fact that the officers, during the greater por- 
tion of the engagement, and always when closely pressed, had to perform the duties of not 
only one, but two cannoniers, handling their own shot, and firing their own pieces in con- 
sequence of the very limited number of men. 

In conclusion, sir, I am proud to state, that until the enemy's artillery was taken, and 
they completely routed, no other artillery was required, or at least used, but the battery I 
have the honor to command. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

RANDOLPH RIDGELEY, 
1st Lieutenant, 3d Artillery, commanding Light Company C. 

CASUALTIES. 

Killed — One private on the 8th. 

Wounded — One brevet major, on the 8th, one sergeant, three privates. 

Horses — Two horses wounded on the 8th, since dead ; one horse, on the 8th, abandoned , 
five horses very severely, unserviceable, on the 9th ; six horses, not very severely, on 
the 9th. 



Dragoon Camp, Resaca de la Palma, on the Battle Ground, May 10, 1846. | 

Sir : Having been detached from the head quarters of my regiment, with my squadron, 
and acting under the immediate orders of the commanding general during the actions of the 
8th and 9th instant, it became my duty to report the services which the squadron I had the 
honor to command rendered during these actions. 

You are aware that my first orders, on the 8th, were to strengthen the left flank of the 
army, and sustain Lieutenant Duncan's battery ; in this position I lost four horses killed and 
two wounded. 

- About half an hour before sunset, I received orders to proceed to the enemy's left flank, 
and drive in his cavalry; in execution of these orders, and while passing the general and 
his staff, the enemy concentrated the fire from their batteries upon us, killing six of my 
horses, and wounding five men. I succeeded in gaining a position on the enemy's left, with 
a view of charging his cavalry, but found him in such force as to render ineffectual a charge 
from my small command, and therefore returned, in obedience to my instructions, to my first 
position, where 1 remained until the close of the action, which terminated very shortly af- 
terwards. Thus ended the service of my squadron on the 8th instant. 

On the morning of the 9th, my squadron was actively employed in reconnoitering the 
chaparral in advance of the field of the 8th ; and on the advance of the army, I took my po- 
sition as the advance guard. When about half a mile from the position which the enemy 
were reported to have taken, I was ordered to halt, and allow the artillery and infantry to 
pass, and await farther orders. I remained in this position about three quarters of an hour, 
when I was ordered to report with my squadron to the general. I did so ; and was ordered 
by the general to charge the enemy's batteries, and drive them from their pieces ; which 
was rapidly executed, with the loss of Lieutenant Inge, seven privates, and eighteen horses 
killed ; and Sergeant Muley, nine privates and ten horses wounded. Lieutenant Sackett, 



36 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



and Sergeant Story, in the front, by my side, had their horses killed under them ; and Lieu- 
tenant Inge was gallantly leading his platoon when he fell. We charged entirely through 
the enemy's batteries of seven pieces — Captain Graham, accompanied by Lieutenants Win- 
ship and Pleasanton, leading the charge against the pieces on the left of the road, and my- 
self, accompanied by Lieutenants Inge, Stevens, and Sackett, those on the direct road— and 
gained the rising ground on the opposite side of the ravine. The charge was made under a 
heavy fire of the enemy's batteries, which accounts for my great loss. After gaining the 
rising ground in the rear, I could rally but six men ; with these I charged their gunners, 
who had regained their pieces, drove them off, and took prisoner General Vega, whom I 
found gallantly fighting in person at his battery. I ordered them to surrender, and on recog- 
nizing me as an officer, he handed me his sword. I brought him, under a heavy fire of their 
infantry, to our lines, accompanied by Lieutenant Stevens and a sergeant of my squadron. 
I then directed Lieutenant Stevens to conduct him in safety to our rear, and presented his 
sword to the commanding general. 

From this time until the enemy were routed, I was engaged in collecting my men, who 
had become scattered in our lines, and succeeded in assembling half of my squadron, joined 
the army in pursuit of the enemy, until he crossed the Rio Grande, from which I returned 
to camp. 

I cannot speak in terms of sufficient praise of the steadiness and gallantry of the officers 
and men of my command. They all behaved with that spirit of courage and noble daring 
which distinguished the whole army in this memorable action, and achieved the most bril- 
liant victory of the age. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

C. A. MAY, Captain, 2d Dragoons, commanding 2d Squadron 
Lieutenant McDonald, Adjutant, 2d Dragoons. 



REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BELKNAP TO GENERAL TAYLOR. 

Head Quarters, First Brigade, Camp near Matamoras, May 15, 1846. 

Sir : In submitting an official report of the operations of the 1st brigade, in the actions 
of the 8th and 9th of May, at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, I feel a degree of delicacy 
in the task, from my humble rank, in comparison with the importance and magnitude of my 
command, and lest I shall be unable to do full justice to the admirable conduct of the officers 
and men who served under my orders. 

On my first meeting the enemy, I received your order to form on the left, with instruc- 
tions to move into the chaparral, and allow the men to refresh themselves by getting water. 
Perceiving in a few moments that the enemy were advancing, and not knowing precisely — '• 
being on the left of the line — where water was to be obtained, I directed the men to remain 
in the ranks. The enemy shortly after having halted, and your instructions for the refresh- 
ment of the men having been repeated, they proceeded to get water, and immediately fell in, 
prepared and eager for action. The brigade was then ordered to advance in column on the 
left of the army — the battalion of artillery, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Childs, on 
the right, the 8th regiment of infantry, commanded by Captain Montgomery, on the left, and 
Captain Duncan's battery in the centre. The army having then been ordered to advance, 
the brigade moved in this order until the enemy opened his batteries ; when the brigade was 
halted, Captain Duncan's battery advanced about two hundred yards and commenced a most 
destructive fire upon the enemy. This disposition was maintained for about two hours, when 
the enemy's fire slackened, and finally ceased. Nothing could surpass the coolness and 
steadiness of the command while thus exposed to a galling fire, receiving, as they did, the 
heavy discharges of the enemy's well-aimed artillery, without the power of defending them- 
selves. 

In a short time after the firing ceased, the army was ordered to advance and take position 
somewhat nearer to the enemy ; the battalion of artillery taking post in rear and to the right 
of the two 18 pounders, Captain Duncan's artillery on their left, and the 8th infantry on the 
left and to the rear of this battery. At this moment, Captain Duncan, with his usual quick- 
ness of perception, discovered and communicated to me the fact, that the enemy was mov- 
ing the entire cavalry and infantry force of his right wing upon our train, in rear of the left 
of our line of battle, and that his battery could produce a more destructive effect upon the 
enemy by taking a position farther to the left. I ordered him to proceed to the threatened 
point with all possible dispatch, and hold the enemy in check till the 8th infantry could 
come up to his support. The battery dashed back to the left flank, in full view of the ene- 
my, and engaged him within point blank range of his small guns. So sudden and unex- 
pected was this movement to the enemy, who, a moment before, saw his battery disappear 
in an opposite direction, behind the smoke of the burning prairie, that his whole column of 
cavalry pulled up to a halt before a shot had been fired, or even the guns unlimbered. A 
strong body of the enemy's infantry, supported by two squadrons of cavalry, debouched from 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



37 



the extreme right of the chaparral, and moved steadily forward to the attack ; one section 
of the battery opened upon them with round shot, shells, and spherical case, so well direct- 
ed, that the whole advance, horse and foot, fell back in disorder to the bushes ; the other 
•section played, in the meantime, upon the masses of cavalry that had halted at the sight of 
the guns, as before mentioned. Although these shots were well directed, and each made 
an opening through an entire squadron, this part of the enemy's line stood unshaken. 

The column of cavalry and infantry, driven back in the chaparral by the other section, 
re-formed there, and moved forward a second time to the attack with great regularity. After 
they advanced about 100 yards from the chaparral, the section before ordered to drive them 
back, again opened, and drove them with even greater success than before. They fell back 
pell mell to the bushes and commenced their retreat ; their supporting cavalry abandoned 
them, rushed back upon the head of the columns that had before withstood our shot, and a 
flight commenced. Squadron after squadron took it up, and the entire right wing of the 
army was in full retreat. Both sections were now brought to bear upon the enemy's broken 
and flying columns, and a brisk and destructive fire was kept up till they disappeared in the 
chaparral, or darkness put an end to the battle. 

When this battery first reached its position on the left, and before the infantry could ar- 
rive for its support, Captain Ker, of the 2d dragoons, who had been directed with his squa- 
dron to guard the baggage train, with a promptness and eagerness worthy of all praise, of- 
fered to repel any attempt of the enemy to assail the battery on its left. 

During the absence of the 8th infantry on the left, the commander of the artillery batta- 
lion, vigorously and successfully repelled a desperate effort of the enemy to carry the 18 
pounders, by promptly forming square and arresting the charge of cavalry. While in this 
position, he received a fire from a line of the enemy's infantry, which was quickly returned. 
He then encamped on his own ground; at this time the brigade was reunited near the 18- 
pounder battery, and bivouacked in front of the army. 

On the morning of the 9th we were instructed to assume the same order and advance 
upon the enemy, he having in the night and early in the morning, retired. The brigade 
advanced across the plain and took position in the chaparral, where we halted for several 
hours, waiting instructions, and burying in the mean time eleven of the enemy's dead, that 
were there found terribly mangled. The army having been put in march in the afternoon, 
the brigade was ordered to halt as a reserve, when within about a mile of the enemy's posi- 
tion. In a few minutes, the firing having commenced in front, I received orders to move 
up Duncan's battery and one battalion of infantry. The battery and the 8th regiment were 
immediately put in motion, the latter in double quick time. 

On arriving at the scene of action, the 8th regiment charged the enemy on the right of 
the road, and drove him from his position. At this moment Captain May, of the 2d drag- 
oons, informed me that he had charged and carried one of the enemy's batteries, but being 
unsupported, was unable to maintain it. I immediately ordered the 8th infantry to form in 
the road, when it was led to a charge upon the battery, a part of which had, as reported, 
been re-taken by the enemy. This movement was executed with the greatest celerity, and 
the battery secured. The regiment then charged upon the ravine and across the small 
prairie, amidst a sheet of fire from the front and right, drove the supporting column before 
it, destroying the enemy in vast numbers — they having maintained a most determined and 
obstinate resistance, until finally repulsed and driven from the field. Captain Montgomery, 
with his regiment, pursued vigorously into the chaparral on the opposite side of the ravine, 
until from the rapid flight of the enemy, farther pursuit was useless. 

The conflict was short. The result shows the severity. 

At the head of the ravine I met with Captain McCall, 4th infantry, who in command of 
the advance, had gallantly brought on the action, and poured a most destructive, and kept 
up an incessant fire upon the enemy. 

After the commencement of the action, on advancing with the 8th infantry and the bat- 
tery of the artillery, I ordered Lieut.-Col. Childs to remain with his battalion as a reserve 
It is due to Col. C. to state, that he was desirous that his battalion should be selected to ad- 
vance into the action instead of the 8th regiment. He soon after received orders from the 
commanding-general to advance. He obeyed and rapidly pursued the enemy to the Rio 
Grande, where having thrown our pickets, he captured one captain, and about twelve pri- 
vates during the enemy's flight. 

As soon as the enemy's batteries were carried, and his infantry began to give ground, 
Capt. Duncan was ordered to cross the ravine and take up a new position, that previously 
occupied, rendering it impossible for him to assail the enemy, without galling our own 
troops. This was done, and the enemy vigorously pursued, a few well directed shots from 
our batteries driving him from position to position till he reached the river. 

Where ail have acted nobly, it may seem improper to speak of individuals, but I feel 
compelled to name the commanders of corps in the brigade. The commander of the bat- 
talion of artillery, Lieut.-Col. Childs, needs no praise from me. His well-earned fame, 
won on many a field, is known to all ; but his coolness and intrepidity in the battle of the 
8th, during the heavy cannonade of the enemy, the prompt manner in which he repulsed 



38 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



the charge upon the 18-pounder battery, and his hot pursuit of the enemy to the banks of 
the Rio Grande on the evening of the 9th, are new evidences of his zeal and soldiership, 
which it gives me pleasure to record. 

Capt Montgomery, in command of the 8th infantry at Palo Alto, manifested the utmost 
coolness during the connonade of that day, when his horse was shot under him. The cele- 
rity with which he moved to the support of the battery of Artillery, when threatened by 
the enemy's cavalry, as well as his eagerness in getting into action on the 9th, in which he 
was, wounded, and his vigor in pursuing the enemy, merits high commendation. 

I cannot too much commend the skill and judgment of Captain Duncan on both fields. 
His quick eye detected at Palo Alto the threatening movement of the enemy on the left, 
whose advancing columns were arrested by his prompt action, and finally turned back by 
the rapid and skilful discharges from his fine battery. 

In the battle of the 9th, the 8th regiment lost Lieutenant Chadbourne, a promising young 
.iM^r, who fell in the discharge of his duty. Lieutenants Gates and Jordan were badly, 
but not mortally wounded. The latter, when personally charging the enemy, being over- 
powered by numbers, was relieved by Lieutenant Lincoln, who slew with his own hand 
two of the fiercest assailants. Lieutenants Selden, Burbank, Maclay, and Morris, were 
wounded. Lieutenant Luther, of the artillery battalion, was wounded by a musket ball in 
the action of the 8th. On this day, Lieutenant Daniels, acting aid-de-camp, had his horse 
shot under him by a cannon ball. Captain McKavett, of the 8th infantry, and acting field 
officer of his regiment, had his horse shot under him by a musket ball on the 9th. 

I cannot close this report without bearing testimony to the zeal and efficiency of the brig- 
ade staff. The highest praise belongs to Lieut. Chase, 2d artillery, acting assistant adjutant 
general, and Lieut. Daniels, 2d artillery, brigade commissary and acting aid-de-camp, for 
the rapidity with which they communicated my orders from point to point, and the cool- 
ness and courage they displayed under the hottest fire in both these battles. 

My thanks are also due to Mr. John B. Cozzens, of New York city, who rendered valua- 
ble assistance, by transmitting, with intelligence, such information as I had occasion, from 
time to time, to communicate. 

It is impossible to enumerate all the instances of personal bravery conspicuous on these 
days. It may be confidently asserted that in their passive exposure to the deadly fire of the 
enemy's batteries on the plain of Palo Alto, the fortitude, high moral courage, hardy valor 
and perfect discipline, displayed by the troops, have few parallels in the history of war; 
while the battle of Resaca de la Palma will long be associated with deeds of heroism and 
intrepid daring which can never be surpassed. 

In the action of the 8th the artillery battalion lost in killed, one sergeant, one corporal, 
one private, wounded, one lieutenant, two artificers, one musician, and five privates — aggre- 
gate, 12. 

The 8th infantry lost, killed, 4 privates, 16 privates wounded — total SO, including missing, 
2 privates. The artillery company had wounded, 1 non-commissioned officer, 1 artificer, 
and 2 privates — total, 4. 

On the 9th the companies in Captain McCall's command belonging to the artillery battal- 
ion, lost in killed, 1 corporal, 2 privates ; wounded, 1 sergeant and 4 privates — total 10. 

The 8th regiment of infantry, on the 9th, lost in killed, 1 subaltern, 4 non-commissioned 
officers, and 3 privates — total 8 ; wounded, 7 officers, 8 non-commissioned officers, 17 pri- 
vates — aggregate, 32. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

M. G. BELKNAP, Lieut. Col. Comm'g. 1st Brigade. 
Capt. W. W. S. Bliss, Ass't. Adj't. Gen., Army of Occupation. 



Battle-field near Matamoras, > 
Headquarters 5th brigade, May 11, 1846. $ 

Colonel : I have the honor to enclose herewith, for the information of the commanding 
general, the reports of Capt. Lewis Morris, of the 3d, and brevet Major Allen, of the 4th 
infantry, giving a detailed account of the services performed by the regiments under their 
respective commands in the actions which took place on the 8th and -9th instant. 

I have only this moment received these reports, and as I am under orders to march imme- 
diately with my brigade, have not a moment to add any thing to them, if I were disposed to 
do so. Both of these regimental commanders used every effort to meet the enemy and to 
overcome him. It was pleasing to me to witness the gallant rivalry between these two 
corps. They shared liberally in the dangers and exertions which brought about our signal 
success. I witnessed with great satisfaction, in a dense chaparral, Captain Morrison, of the 
4th, overcoming obstacles which I believed insurmountable, in order to .reach the enemy. 

Of Captain McCali, 4th infantry, whose merits are fully appreciated by the commanding 
general, I can make no remark, as he was detached with a separate command, under the 
special instructions of the general himself. 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



39 



It gives me great pleasure to speak in terms of high approbation of the efficient services 
of my principal staff' officers, Lieutenant Beaman, of the 4th infantry, brigade major ; Lieu- 
tenant G. O. Haller, A. C. S., also rendered me valuable service during the two actions. 

Most respectfully, I am, colonel, your obedient servant, JNO. GARLAND, 

Lieut. Col. 4th infantry, commanding 3d brigade. 

Col. D. E. Twiggs, 2d dragoons, commanding right wing, Army of Occupation. 



Head-quarters, 4th Infantry, > 
Camp on the Battle Field, May 10, 1846. > 

Sir: I have the honor to report for the information of the colonel commanding the 3d 
brigade, that in obedience to orders received yesterday, when the firing commenced, the 4th 
infantry deployed as skirmishing on the right and left of the road, and advanced towards the 
point where the firing seemed most lively. After rushing on for some short distance, it 
was discovered that the enemy were pouring in a heavy fire of grape and musketry, from a 
small breastwork just in front, defended by one piece of artillery, and about 150 or 200 men. 
Captain Buchanan being nearest this point, and finding himself the senior officer, collected 
some 25 or 30 men of the regiment; portions of his own company, and companies D, H, 
and K, and it together with Lieuts. Hays and Woods, charged the work, completely routed 
the enemy, and captured the field. The regiment still continued to move forward until it 
emerged from the thicket into the main camp of the enemy, containing the head quarters of 
the commanding general of the Mexican army, their ammunition, some 300 or 400 mules, 
saddles, and every variety of camp equipage. I regret extremely to announce the death of 
First Lieutenant R. E. Cochrane of my regiment, who fell at the very edge of the camp, 
whilst gallantly leading his men into it. The nature of the chaparral was such, that in 
going through it, it very frequently became unavoidably necessary to divide the regiment 
into detachments, each of which met the enemy at different points, and always put him to 
flight. I cannot pass over in silence the brave and distinguished behaviour of Lieutenants 
Hays and Woods, as well as that of Sergeant Major Maloney, and Corporals Farrel and Mc 
Tarlin, who, whilst their gallant commander, Captain Buchanan, was busily engaged in 
driving back the infantry, rushed forward with six men to the cannon, and whilst Lieuten- 
ant Hays was endeavoring to despatch one of the mules attached to it, Lieutenant Woods 
sprung to the handspikes, turned the piece in such a direction as to lock one of the wheels 
against a tree, and thereby prevented its being moved, and succeeded in defending and secu- 
ring it. The conduct of the officers and men on this day, as well as on the 8th, reflects the 
highest credit on the American soldier. On the 8th, Captain Page was severely, if not 
mortally wounded ; one man killed and one wounded. On the 9th, 1st Lieut. R. E. Coch- 
rane, and three men were killed, Lieutenants Wallen and Hays, and six men wounded ; 
Lieutenants Wallen and Hays very slightly. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. W. ALLEN, 

Brevet Major, Comm'g 4th Infantry. 
To Lieut. Col. J. Garland, Commanding 3d Brigade. 

P. S. For further particulars, you are referred to the accompanying report of Captain 
Buchanan. G. W. A. 

I have the greatest pleasure in expressing my warmest thanks to the adjutant of the 4th 
infantry, Lieutenant Haskins for his coolness, gallantry, and efficient assistance throughout 
the whole of both affairs. GEO. W. ALLEN, 

Brevet Major, Comm'g 4th Infantry. 



Camp on the Battle Field, May 10, 1846. 
Sir: In compliance with your request, I have the honor to report. that, in the deploy- 
ment of the 4th infantry, I found myself in command of companies B, D, and K, on the left 
of the road as we entered ; and having been ordered to cross to the right and advance, did 
so. After crossing the pond, I had with Lieutenants Hays and Woods, and about thirty men 
of different regiments, mostly, however, of the 4th. Upon deploying my men on the crest 
of the hill, I discovered one of the enemy's pieces about fifty yards in my front, which was 
defended by about 150 infantry. I charged, and took the piece, and attempted to spike it, 
but not being able to do so, took it back to a place of safety. The enemy had a breastwork in 
my rear, and opened a heavy fire on me, when, with about ten men, I dislodged him, and 
drove him across the road. Too much credit cannot be given to Lieuts. Hays and Woods, 
of the 4th. They were among the very first to reach the piece, and to them belong the 
credit of its capture. While I was engaged in driving the enemy from his breastwork, these 
officers, with the men, repulsed a party that charged them in order to recapture their piece. 



40 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



I cannot refrain from calling your attention to Sergeant Major Maloney and Corporal Far- 
rel, who behaved with remarkable coolness and gallantry. Every body did his duty nobly, 
as becomes American soldiers. 

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, 

ROBERT C. BUCHANAN, Captain 4th Infantry. 
To Major G. W. Allen, Commanding 4th Infantry. 



Head Quarters, Third Infantry, Camp on Battle Field, near Matamoras, May 10, 1846. 

Sir : I have the honor to report that, in obedience to your order, immediately before the 
battle of the 9th instant, at this place, I deployed the 3d infantry as skirmishers on the right 
of the road — the left resting on the road — the regiment advanced rapidly to the front, and 
soon after the firing commenced, I found my command so far advanced as to be exposed to a 
cross-fire from our own and the enemy's batteries, and in consequence of the very dense 
chaparral the regiment became very much scattered. I passed an order down the line for 
the officers to collect all the men they could, and bring them into the engagement, which 
was altogether on the left of the road. I returned myself with all the men I could collect, 
turned Duncan's batteries, and joined in the action on the left flank, with Lieuts. Johns, 
Bee, Williamson, and Hatch, 3d infantry. Lieutenant and Adjutant Irons passed into the 
right with a few men, and joined a party under Captain McCall. The officers near me on 
this occasion did all that could be desired of gallant soldiers. They directed the men with 
coolness, judgment, and activity ; the soldiers, too, about ^hirty in the detachment, did them- 
selves great credit. I regret that I cannot give a more full account of what the regiment 
accomplished. As stated before, it became scattered, and each officer was compelled to act 
independently. Some few have to regret that they could not find their way out of the chap- 
arral in time to join in the battle. Captain Barbour did good service with his detachment, 
by driving back a body of cavalry attempting to recover a piece of artillery taken by some 
officers and men of the 4th infantry. I must not omit to notice in this report the conduct of 
Corporal O'Sullivan, of company E, 3d infantry, who fired at a body of the enemy, and im- 
mediately rushed in among them and seized a lieutenant by the collar, disarmed him, and 
delivered him a prisoner to Lieutenant Graham. He afterwards went with a party under 
Sergeant Kendall, of F company, 3d Infantry, captured a gun from the enemy, rolled it out 
into the road, and turned it over to an officer of the 5th infantry. There were many other 
acts of individual daring ; but, where all behaved well, it is deemed unnecessary to multiply 
instances. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 88 ™ 

L. N. MORRIS, Captain 3d Infantry, Commanding the Regiment. 
Lieutenant-Colonel J. Garland, Commanding 3d Brigade, Army of Occupation. 



Head Quarters, 5th Infantry, Camp on the Field of Battle, May 10, 1846. 

Sir : In obedience to your orders, I have the honor to report that, in the action of Palo 
Alto, on the 8th instant, the 5th infantry was placed on the extreme right of our line. Af- 
ter sustaining the cannonade of the enemy for about three quarters of an hour, the regiment 
was ordered to turn the left flank of the enemy, and was detached for that purpose, advanc- 
ing nearly half a mile to the right and front; the cavalry of the Mexicans, with two pieces 
of artillery, in view, extending themselves apparently for the purpose of outflanking us. On 
the near approach of the enemy's cavalry, the regiment was thrown into square, with Capt. 
Walker, of the Texas Rangers, and twenty mounted men, on our right. The enemy com- 
menced an irregular fire upon our square as they advanced, wounding three or four of our 
men, and continued to do so until within about fifty yards, when our fire was delivered from 
one front of the square, killing several men and horses, and causing the enemy to retire. 
Our fire was followed by the rifles of the mounted men. At this moment Lieutenant Ridge- 
ly, with two pieces of his battery, came to our support, and poured in a destructive fire of 
grape and cannister on the enemy, now in full retreat towards his right. The regiment re- 
mained on this ground for about half an hour, when we were ordered to take up position on 
the right of the new line, which had been formed by throwing forward our right, the enemy 
having changed his front nearly perpendicular to his first line. Here we received a severe 
fire from the enemy's batteries, wounding a corporal of the color company, and the color ser- 
geant slightly. As it was now near night, we were ordered up far the protection of the 
train, the cannonading from both sids ceasing at dusk. 

In the battle of the 9th, the 5th being in advance, and the enemy beins discovered in front, 
the xegiment was ordered into the chaparral on the left of the road, and directed to advance 
as skirmishers, and push for the enemy. The chaparral at first was dense and almost im- 
passable, consequently the regiment became much separated and extended, rendering it 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



41 



impossible to advance with much regularity. A severe cannonading from both sides now 
began, mingled with a tremendous fire of musketry. In a few moments the order was given 
to charge the enemy's batteries, which was promptly done by cavalry and infantry, and the 
enemy's guns were all captured. In this brilliant exploit the 5th bore a conspicuous part — 
a portion of the regiment successfully resisting the attempt of the enemy to recapture three 
guns on the right of his battery, the remainder of the regiment being extended towards the 
right, and mingling in the severe and close engagement which was there going on, and was 
so gloriously terminated. 

During the action of this day, Lieut.-Colonel Mcintosh and Captain Hooe were severely, 
and Lieut. Fowler slightly wounded : loss of the rank and file, nine killed and twenty-five 
wounded — many of them severely. 

In conclusion, I will only add that all, both officers and men, did their duty in a most gal- 
lant manner, determined to conquer the enemy or perish in the conflict. 

I have the honor to be, verv respectfully, your obedient servant, 

F. STANIFORD, Major 5th Infantry, commanding Regiment. 

To Col. D. E. Twiggs, commanding Right Wing, Army of Occupation. 



Camp of the Artillery Batt., 
First Brigade, near Matamoras, Mexico, May 13, 1846. 
Captain Geo. A. McCall, 4th Regiment of Infantry : 

Sir : Agreeably to your desire, to-day I have the honor to report that, pursuant to your 
orders on the 9th "instant, my command (consisting of the four light companies of the brig- 
ade) advanced on the right of the road flanking our artillery, and about eighty yards from it. 
The moment the fire of the enemy was heard, I hastened to the battalion, marching it by 
the right flank in the direction of the pond, until stopped by the thick chaparral, when it 
was faced to the front, and advanced in the direction of the enemy's battery. It being 
impossible to get through the chaparral advancing in line of battle, I ordered an advance 
by heads of companies, and to have the line re-formed as soon as we could get through — a 
matter that seemed difficult, if not impossible. 

We had advanced thus but a few paces, when a discharge of musketry was given by tho 
enemy towards the battery, and from our right and rear. This rendered a corresponding 
change on my part necessary Accordingly I ordered the battalion to deploy as skirmish- 
ers, facing the pond, and to advance through the chaparral as far as possible. The moment 
this deployment was attempted, a heavy and well-sustained fire of musketry was opened 
upon us from the opposite edge of the pond, and kept up until the enemy retired. The 
chaparral was too dense for the men to charge through, but they maintained a steady fire, 
and with considerable effect, until a short time before the' close of the action, when, my 
own observation confirming the report of the officers and men that a severe cross fire of 
musketry, which had been opened upon us from the left came from our friends, I withdrew 
the battalion about 200 yards, and then moved up the road to report for orders. General 
Taylor (by his adjutant general) directed me to sustain Lieutenant Duncan's battery, just 
about to pursue the enemy, which I did until it halted here. The behaviour of the compa- 
ny, officers* and men, was all that could be desired. I feel under especial obligations to 
Captain J. B. Scott, 4th artillery, for the assistance rendered me (as an acting field officer) 
throughout the day. I give a return of the killed and wounded below. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. F SMITH, 

Captain 2d Art. comd'g. Bat. of light companies, 1st Brigade. 

*K. 2d Art.— Bv't. 2d Lt. H. F. Clarke. I. 4th Art.— 1st Lt. J. C. Pemberton. A. 8th Inft.— 1st Lt. A. T. Leo, 
2d Lt. J. Longstreet. F. 8th lufu— 2d Lt. J. Beardaley, Bv't. 2d Lt. T. J. Montgomery. 



REPORT OF CAPT. McCALL TO GEN. TAYLOR. 

Camp near-Matamoras, \ 
May 13, 1846. $ 

Sir : On the 9th instant, in obedience to your orders, I marched from Palo Alto — the 
battle-ground of the 8th— with the " advance," (consisting of 220 men,) to follow and 
observe the movements of the enemy on the route to Matamoras. I directed Capt. C. F. 
Smith, 2d artillery, with the light companies of the 1st Brigade, to move on the right of the 
road, while I advanced with the detachment, composed of artillery and infantry, on the left. 
Capt. Walker, of the Texas Rangers, with a small detachment of mounted men, was order- 
ed to examine the road in front ; and Lieutenant Pleasanton, 2d dragoons, with a few drag- 
oons, marched in rear of the columns of infantry. 

Having followed the trail of the enemy about two and a half miles, through the chapar- 
ral, a prisoner was taken on the edge of the Jackass prairie, and one of the enemy killed 
by Capt. Walker's men on the prairie. 



42 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



Having examined the opposite side, Capt. Walker reported the road clear, when, desiring 
to procure definite information as to the position of the enemy, I pushed him forward into 
the chaparral, (within supporting distance,) and one or two parties of from three to six 
were seen in the brush ; one of which — a mounted party — was fired upon by my right flank- 
ers. On reaching the open ground at La Resaca de la Palma, the head of my column 
received three rounds of cannister shot from a masked battery, which killed one private 
and wounded two sergeants, on the left of the road, and made my men take cover. They 
rallied, however, handsomely, within forty or fifty paces. I now brought Capt. Smith's 
detachment to the left of the road, proposing to attack by a flank movement, what I suppo- 
sed to be only the rear-guard of the retiring army ; and I sent Lieut. McCown, with two 
men, to recall Lieut. Dobbins, who, with a few men, had deployed to the left, where he 
killed one or two of the enemy, who showed themselves in his front. On the return of 
Lieut. Dobbins, with Lieut. McCown, the former reported a large body of troops in motion 
on our left, and at the same time some lancers were observed in the road in front. Being 
now satisfied that the Mexican army was in force, in our front, I despatched three dragoons 
to inform you of the fact, and then moved my command to a stronger position to await your 
arrival. 

On your arrival, Capt. Smith was again ordered to take the right of the road, while I took 
the left, with orders to bring on the action, and then flank the enemy. Advancing about three 
hundred yards or more to the front and flank, I encountered the right of the enemy's infantry, 
and the action immediately commenced. They were strongly posted in the ravine on the 
near side of the pond, (the principal line being on the opposite side,) and, in addition to 
the fire of musketry from both lines, my men were exposed to heavy discharges of cannister 
from two field-pieces in rear of their centre ; yet, in a short time the enemy were driven 
from their right towards the road, and my men followed with a hearty cheer. In following 
them, however, I soon found that our own batteries were sweeping my front, and their fire 
being kept up, I made a flank movement to the road, and here I at once became engaged with 
the enemy occupying the pond on the right of the road. As soon as their fire ceased at this 
point, I recrossed the road to regain my former position on the right flank of the enemy. 
Here a part of my regiment became mixed in with the 5th regiment of infantry ; they united 
with that regiment, and charged with it. Lieutenant Pitcher of the 5th regiment was of 
the number. I continued to advance on the left of the .*>th regiment, and was soon engaged 
with part of the regiment of the Tampico guards. They received several destructive fires 
from my men, and then retired. I should me ition that during this interval, Lieut. McCown 
having been separated from me, joined the 8th infantry and charged with them. My com- 
mand continued to move forward on the enemy's right with more or less interruption, (in- 
separable from a bush fight,) until the close of the battle. 

Captain Smith being separated from me, I was not an eye-witness of the individual con- 
duct of himself and officers, but I enclose herewith his report made to me this day. 

In that part of my command where I was in person, every officer and man did his duty 
most handsomely. I received every assistance from the good conduct of Lieutenants Dob- 
bin, McCown, Wain wright, and Pitcher, Lieutenants Dobbin, Wainwright, and Pitcher, 
used their own rifles and guns with good effect against the enemy, and everywhere inspired 
the men with confidence and eagerness to engage. 

The loss sustained by the advance on the 9th May. was six killed and fourteen wounded. 
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

GEORGE A. McCALL, Captain 4th Infantry, commanding the Advance. 

Captain W. W. Bliss, Adjutant General, Army of Occupation. 

The following, which we take from the Washington Union, completes the se- 
ries of General Taylor's despatches : 

From the Union, July 23. 

We have been favored with a copy of the General Order No. 59, issued by General Taylor. It 
requires no introduction or explanation ; but it illustrates his scrupulous sense of justice towards ev- 
ery one under his command. This extreme solicitude for the reputation of others is an honorable 
trait, and is the key to General Taylor's hold upon the affections and respect of the army : 

Head Quarters, Army of Occupation, Matamoras, July 6, 1846; 

Sir: It has been brought to my notice that an omission occurred in my detailed report of the ac- 
tion of the 9th, which I beg l«ave to supply in the following words, to follow immediately after the 
mention of Lieutenant-Colonel Mcintosh's being twice severely wounded." 

The command of the 5th Infantry then devolved upon Major Stamford, who conducted it with 
zeal and ability to the close of the engagement. 

I need hardly say that this omission was entirely accidental, and I beg, as an act of justice to Ma- 
jor Staniford as well as myself, that the above paragraph may be inserted in the original report, and 
mav receive the same publicity. I am, sir, very respectjully, your obedient servant, 

(Signed) Z. TAYLOR, Brevet Major General. 

The Adjutant General of the Army. 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



43 



Close of the Battle. 

The publication of the Despatches of Gen. Taylor and his officers, leave little 
more to be added. 

A complete panic and rout ensued on the part of the enemy; they fled in 
every direction for the river ; many were drowned in attempting to cross. 
Eight pieces of artillery fell into our hands, and an innumerable quantity of 
small arms, munitions, baggage, camp equipage, military chest containing a 
large quantity of gold, General Arista's carriage, baggage, port folio, with all 
his official correspondence with the government, with full plans of the campaign 
and instruction from the Mexican government, authorising him to send General 
Taylor and his army, when taken prisoners, to the City of Mexico ; to treat Gen. 
Taylor and his officers with such care and attention as become the magnanimity 
of the great Mexican nation ; four or five hundred head of mules, &c, with a 
large number of stands of colors. 

After the rout, Gen. Taylor dispatched Capt. Car of the Dragoons, with a 
guard, to the fort, to convey the intelligence ; they bore so many of the enemy's 
colors with them, that they presumed in the fort that it was the Mexicans 
coming up to make an assault, it being dark, and that the fort fired upon them, 
but fortunately injured no one. 

The Mexican army was put to a total rout in the two battles of Resaca de 
la Palma and Palo Alto, with a loss of about 1000 men, all their cannon, about 
600 pack mules, all the ammunition and provisions and personal baggage of 
officers, upwards of 1000 stand of small arms, all their drums, and a great many 
colors, and a General and three field officers prisoners, besides half a dozen 
Captains and subalterns. 

After the battle of the 9th the right wing of the American army remained on 
the field two days, 10th and 11th, burying the dead and taking care of the cap- 
tured property. They treated the Mexican prisoners with generous kindness, 
sharing with them whatever they had. But on the other hand the Mexicans 
invariably mutilated the killed if they were not too closely pressed to do it, and 
in every case killed where they could ; even the wounded, who happened to have 
a breath left in them, were despatched with the lance or the bayonet. The 
American loss in the two actions was not over 150 killed and wounded. 

The Mexicans retreated under so great a panic that numbers of them rushed 
into the Rio Grande to swim across, fearing they would be taken, and were 
drowned : — the bodies of four officers and more than a hundred men were seen 
floating down the river. 

Taylor Crosses the Rio Grande. 

On the 17th Gen. Taylor decided to move to the point selected for crossing 
the river, and commence operations against the city. The troops struck their 
tents early that morning. The unusual stir and activity was seen by the enemy, 
and no doubt attributed to the proper cause. A parley was sounded, and a de- 
putation from Gen. Arista crossed to see Gen. Taylor. General Ricardo was at 
the head of it ; Arista proposed to enter into an armistice, until they could hear 
from Mexico, not doubting the boundary would now be settled. Gen. Taylor 
said " no, that he had offered them one, some time since ; had evinced the most 
friendly disposition ; that they would not agree to it when his army was weak, 
and now, that reinforcements had arrived, he should dictate his own terms." 
Ricardo wished to know if the General intended taking Matamoras ? He said 
"yes." R. offered to surrender all the public property, ammunition, &c., if he 
would not cross. The General said "no, that he must have Matamoras if he 



44 



THE WAR WITH MEXICO. 



had to batter it down, and said that now was he prepared to do it. He told him 
to tell Gen. Arista that these and these only were his terms. That the city must 
capitulate, all public property, ammunition, provision, &c. must be given up, and 
that then the army might march out and retire." 

During the evening active preparations were made for crossing the troops. 
No reply was given to the General's proposition. The country people com- 
menced crossing and reported that the army had deserted the city and retired. 
On the morning of the 18th confirmation was received of the reported flight of 
Arista and his army. The terror was still working. Early in the morning the 
Dragoons, the light companies of the different battalions, Ridgely's (late the la- 
mented Ringgold's) Artillery, and the 5th Infantry, were crossed. 

In crossing, Lieut. Stevens, of the 2nd Dragoons, was drowned. 

After the troops had crossed, Adjutant General Bliss advanced towards the 
main fort in front of the town, and sounded a peal. The principal Alcalde made 
his appearance, and a formal demand was made for the surrender of the town, 
with a promise that all religious and civil rights should be secured to them — all 
private property protected. The alcalde wished to know if the public buildings 
and property would be free. The answer was, every thing belonging to the 
Government must be given up. The Alcalde then said Gen. Taylor could take 
possession as soon as he thought proper, and that he would meet with no resis- 
tance. This was done, the troops encamping in front of the town. 

Gen. Taylor decided upon crossing the rest of the army at the upper ferry of 
the city. As they approached the ferry, the men already in possession of the 
Mexican fort prepared to run up the stars and stripes. Just as they reached the 
bank, Capt. Kerr, of the 2d Dragoons, ran it up ; it floated gracefully in the 
breeze, and proudly waved over Mexico. The men of the advance sent up three 
hearty cheers to welcome the flag of their country ! When the whole of the 
3d Regiment was formed, it moved off to the right to the tune of " Yankee 
Doodle." 

Col. Twiggs was given the especial charge of the city, as far as the discovery 
and the collection of the public property is concerned, but General Taylor de- 
clined interfering with the municipal authorities. 

Subsequent Events. 

The events which occurred subsequent to the seizure of Matamoras may be 
briefly narrated, as they are of little moment. 

The Mexican Government sent a small sum of money to Gen. Taylor to de- 
fray the expenses of medical attendance for their wounded soldiers, who filled 
the hospitals of the captured city. The local governments of the neighbouring 
towns and villages sent him their offers of submission, and throughout the whole 
region from the Rio Grande to Monterey, not a place is now held by the Mexi- 
can troops. 

It would be foreign to the purpose of this work to enter into any speculations 
upon future events. A large body of volunteers have joined the regular forces 
under Gen. Taylor, who now ranks as high as any officer in the army, having 
been raised to the rank of Major-General by Congress, on the 27th of June. 
What his future movements may be, is as yet, uncertain : but He has, by a long 
career of faithful and glorious service, given his countrymen assured confidence 
that he will achieve new laurels for the American name. 



SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE LATE CONTEST. 45 



CHAPTER V. 

SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE LATE COxNTEST. 

RINGGOLD BROWN — -BELKNAP TWIGGS PAYNE PAGE HAWKINS MAY WALK- 
ER — CHADBOtTRNE COCHRANE INGE — STEVENS. 

Major Ringgold. 

Major Ringgold was the eldest son of the late General Samuel Ringgold, of 
Washington Co., Md. His mother was a daughter of General John Cadwallader, 
of Philadelphia — a distinguished citizen in the days of the Revolution. He en- 
tered the army as Lieutenant of Artillery, in July, 1S18, having graduated at 
West Point with much honor — being one of the five whose names were recorded 
as the most distinguished of a class. He was at once elevated by General 
Scott as one of his aids, and served in that capacity for several years, and ever 
snjoyed in a very eminent degree, the confidence and friendship of that distin- 
guished soldier. Pending the disturbances in South Carolina, the deceased was 
there on duty, and he has frequently expressed his heartfelt gratification at the 
peaceful termination of the unhappy difficulties between a portion of the gallant 
people of that State and the General Government. When the Indian war oc- 
curred in Florida, the deceased, then a Captain of Artillery, was there on duty, 
actively employed in various services, until the wasting effects of the climate 
had so impaired his health that he was prostrated by disease. For " meritorious 
services" in that campaign, he was rewarded by the rank of Brevet Major. He 
was afterwards selected by the Major General Commanding in Chief, to organize 
a corps of flying artillery, and he paid every possible attention to the instruction 
and discipline of this arm of the service. How faithfully he executed his duty 
in this respect, the performances of his admirable corps at Fort McHenry and 
other places — and on the field of Palo Alto — fully attest. 

He never recovered from the effects of his exposures during the Florida cam- 
paign ; and when ordered from Fort McHenry to join the army in Texas, the 
experienced surgeon at this post strongly insisted upon his physical inability to 
go through with the campaign. But he strengthened himself for duty ; and as 
far as known here, he was never, for an hour, unfit for service, since he left the 
Fort. He fell in the fierce battle of the Sth of May ; the same ball killing his 
horse under him and wounding him mortally. 

The deceased was an accomplished gentleman, beloved by his friends, and 
greatly respected by all who knew him. He was devoted to his profession, and 
he justly appreciated the high responsibilities of an officer in command. He 
rigidly applied discipline at all times and in all things ; and yet, probably no 
officer had more entirely the respect, the confidence and the affectionate regard 
of all his officers and men, than the gallant soldier of whom this brief sketch is 
given. 

The deceased in a letter to his immediate friends, written just as the army 
was about to march from Camp Isabel, (but which letter was received only since 
the sad intelligence of his fall,) spoke of the extreme probabih't v of a serious ren- 
contre with the enemy, and expressed sure confidence in 'He triumph of our 
gallant little army. But with characteristic coolness, he also adverted to the 
great probability of his own fall in battle, and in anticipation of that event, he 
i made a brief will, which was enclosed in that letter. His patriotic words to the 
friendly officer who came to his assistance ought not to be forgotten — " Don't 
stay with me, you have work to do — go ahead." 



46 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE LATE CONTEST. 



Major Ringgold has left a brother in the Navy, Lieut. Cadwallader Ringgold, 
who was in the exploring expedition. 

One of his cousins, Capt. McCall, is in the army under Gen. Taylor, and led 
the advance in one of the late actions. , 

Major Brown. 

Major J. Brown, of the 7th Regiment of Infantry, was killed in the attack 
made by the Mexicans on his encampment, opposite Matamoras. At the be- 
ginning of the war in 1812, he enlisted in the army as a common soldier. He 
was an orderly sergeant at the battle of Christler's field, on the bank of the St. 
Lawrence, during the last war with Great Britain, and for his gallant conduct in 
that action he received a commission. On account of his merit, he was promo- 
ted from the ranks to the office of ensign, and served with great bravery and good 
conduct during the whole of the war. He was in nearly all the hard fought 
battles on the Niagara in the years 1S13 and '14. Before the close of the war, 
he was promoted to the office of 1st Lieutenant, and afterwards rose by regular 
gradations to the rank of Major, in which capacity he has served for many years. 
He has been 34 years in the army, and has been much in active service in vari- 
ous parts of the frontier. He at an early day acted as commissary of subsistence 
at Council Bluffs, and was afterwards stationed at St. Louis as Quarter-Master 
Commissary. He was at one time engaged in conducting the tribes of emigra- 
ting Indians to the west, and was in active service during nearly the whole pe- 
riod of the Florida war. A number of years ago, he was stationed at Little 
Rock, and, although still in the army was elected first President of the Bank of 
Arkansas, which post he held for a year and resigned. He at various times dis- 
bursed very large sums of public money, and was remarkable for accuracy, fidel- 
ity, system and punctuality. 

He has left a w r ife and two daughters. The former has been an inmate of 
the McLean Asylum for ten or twelve years, and is not now conscious of the 
death of her husband. His daughters were educated at Roxbury, and until about 
three years ago resided there in a family, between whom and the Major there 
have long existed the kindest feelings. But having been appointed to the com- 
mand of the garrison at Pensacola, he took his daughters with him — they having 
completed their education. The youngest has since been married to a surgeon 
in the United States Army, who was attached to his regiment at the time he re- 
ceived his mortal wound. Major Brown was a noble specimen of a man. He 
was modest and unassuming in his deportment, and possessed a heart overflow- 
ing with the milk of human kindness. As an officer he was distinguished for 
his courage, military skill, coolness and decision in the hour of battle. General 
Taylor, in his official despatches, pronounces his loss " irreparable." 

Major Brown was 58 years of age at the time of his death. He was a native 
of Clarksburg, in Berkshire Co., Mass. His father resided there for many years, 
and was aided and often visited by his son. 

He received his fatal wound while superintending the labors of the soldiers 
in constructing the " bomb-proofs" of the fortification, opposite Matamoras. His 
leg was shattered by the fragment of a shell, and while he was conveyed to the 
operating station, he exhorted the soldiers whom he passed to do their duty faith- 
fully, and never give up the fort ! Such was Major Jacob Brown. 

Col. Belknap. 

Lieut. Col. Belknap, of the 1st Brigade, is a native of Newburgh, New York. 
A writer in a Newburgh paper thus speaks of him : 

" There are many among us yet who could bear witness to early occasions in 



SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE LATE CONTEST. 47 



which he manifested those tokens of hardihood and fearlessness which have 
marked his subsequent career whenever an opportunity has occurred for exerci- 
sing them. 

<l He was distinguished as amongst the bravest of the brave in the sanguinary 
campaign upon the Niagara, when contending against the veteran troops of the 
Wellington school ; and was there wounded under circumstances that evinced 
not only an utter disregard of personal danger, but a heart alive to the noblest 
sympathies of our nature. 

M He has been a long time in the service. He has been subjected to the most 
trying domestic privations — for years in succession an exile from his wife and 
children. He has served the country in all its regions and climates — has endu- 
red every hardship, and been exposed to every species of danger which the 
army has been required to encounter." 

In the attack upon Fort Erie during the last war with Great Britain, CoL 
Belknap, then a Lieut., acted a distinguished part. His commanding officer, 
Gen. Ripley, in his official despatch, thus notices his services: 

" The manner in which Lieut. Belknap, of the 23d, retired with his picquet 
guard from before the enemy's column excites my particular commendation- 
He gave orders to fire three times as he was retreating to camp, himself bring- 
ing up the rear. In this gallant manner he kept the light advance of the enemy 
in check for a distance of two or three hundred yards. I have to regret that 
when entering our lines after his troops, the enemy pushed so close upon him 
that he received a severe wound from a bayonet." 

Col. Twiggs. 

Col. Twiggs commanded the right wing of the army of occupation during 
the battle of Palo Alto. While the battalions were forming in line this gallant 
officer rode down among them, his countenance serene and cheerful inspiriting 
the troops. During the action he was in his proper position as commander of 
the right wing and ready to move at any moment where his presence might be 
required. 

On the morning of the 9th he rode over the field of action of the 8th and 
assisted in inspiring the men with the confidence that they could not be beaten. 
His coolness and decision in the battle of the 9th materially assisted to win its 
glorious result. 

Col. Twiggs is a native of Georgia, and entered the army in 1818. 

Col. Payne. 

Colonel Payne was the Inspector General of the army of occupation. On 
the Sth of May he took a very conspicuous position, and rode down the line 
several times "before the commencement of the battle. During that trying 
struggle he rendered very material assistance at the battery of the two eighteen 
pounders. On the morning of the 9th he gave the general orders to the differ- 
ent regiments, as they came up, with coolness and precision. ' He was most 
conspicuous during the heaviest fire, and by his gallantry and enthusiasm con- 
tributed greatly to the glorious result of the battle of Resaca de la Palma. He 
was severely wounded in the hip about the middle of the action, and although 
he suffered great pain, refused to leave the saddle until the victory was won. 

Col. Payne has recently returned to the North, and has had the honor of pre- 
senting to the Executive of the nation the trophies of victory recently won by 
our armies. 

Col. Payne is a native of Goochland County, Virginia, and the citizens of that 
part of the country have presented him with a complimentary sword. 



48 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE LATE CONTEST. 



Captain Page. 

Captain John Page was born at Fryeburg, in the State of Maine. He was 
appointed to the army from Massachusetts on the 13th of February, 1818, as a 
second Lieutenant in the 8th Infantry. Upon the reduction of the army in 
1821, he was among those retained in service, and was then transferred to the 
4th Infantry, in which he served until his death from wounds received at Palo 
Alto. At the time he was wounded he was in the actual performance of duty 
commanding a division of the 4th Infantry. Cool, collected and brave, he on 
that memorable day performed every duty assigned to him. The regiment 
being very much exposed to a heavy fire from the Mexican batteries, Gen. 
Taylor ordered it to move off and take up another position, as it could render no 
service against the enemy, the action being principally confined to the artillery 
on both sides. Capt. Page at the moment he was wounded had faced towards 
his division, and was in the act of giving the word of command. 

Strong hopes were entertained of his recovery for many weeks, but he finally 
expired on the 7th July, while on his passage to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis. 
His wife and family were with him in his last hours. 

Captain Page was married to Miss Blaney of Newcastle, Delaware, and had 
by her three children. 

Captain Haivkins. 

Captain E. S. Hawkins is a native of the State of New York, and is the 
eldest son of the late Colonel Samuel Hawkins, formerly of the city of New 
York, who raised a volunteer regiment, and had command at the Narrows, at 
the close of the last war. He was subsequently agent of the government under 
the Ghent Treaty, in settling the Canada boundary. 

The family of Colonel Hawkins is a brave one ; Charles, his second son, was 
Commodore of the Texan navy, and died at New Orleans. Captain H., the 
defender of Fort Brown, graduated at West Point, and has been in the service 
since 1820. His reply to the pompous demand of Arista to surrender, that 
" respectfully declined," was peculiarly characteristic. 

Captain May. 

A Baltimore correspondent of the Boston Atlas, in describing some incidents 
connected with the officers of General Taylor's army, and the great battles on 
the Eio Grande, thus spoke of the personal appearance and intrepid character 
of Captain May, the bold Dragoon : 

" You have seen the personal description of Capt. May, given in a New Or- 
leans paper. It scarcely comes up to the man. He is over six feet high, wears 
his hair long, so that it nearly reaches his hips ; his beard falls below his sword 
belt, and his moustache is unshorn. He is a splendid rider. It was this that 
first attracted the attention of General Jackson, who seeing him galloping along 
the streets in Washington, standing in his stirrups, and presenting the personi- 
fication of a knight of the ancient days of chivalry, sent for him, and gave him a 
commission of cornet. He was in the Florida war, and many are the deeds of 
daring done there told of him. He rose rapidly to distinction, and he owes to 
his service in that war his present commission of Captain. It will interest some 
of your fair readers to hear that he was crossed in love some years ago. Since 
that time he has never allowed his hair or beard to be touched by the barber. 
Such is the story told of him. 

" I have seen a letter from the camp at Matamoras, with a sketch of 'Captain 



SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE LATE CONTEST. 49 



May making his charge.' It is a most spirited and life-like thing. The Mexi- 
can batteries are at work, carrying destruction into the ranks of the Americans ; 
the second platoon of the cavalry has been swept down ; their horses and riders 
are lying together 'heaped and pent.' May is in advance of them all, on his 
noble black steed, standing up in the stirrups, his head bent forward, his long 
hair streaming out behind, like the tail of a comet, and his whole appearance, 
viewed from the head, looking like one of those celestial visitants. It is a most 
striking and animated sketch, and gives to those who see it a vivid idea of that 
most gallant and brilliant achievement. Some of our engravers must get out a 
picture for it; for the demand to see it can only thus be gratified. No wonder, 
from the outre appearance of Capt. May, his face all covered with beard, his hair 
streaming behind him, like a Cumanche Indian, and his eyes glowing like a 
comet — no wonder that Gen. Vega asked, when the Captain demanded his 
sword, ' Are you an officer ?' — He very probably mistook him for a spirit from 
the other world, who had conspired with the Americans to give them the vic- 
tory they had just won against such odds." 

Captain May is a native of Washington, D. C, and is one of six brothers, all 
of whom it is said are over six feet two inches in height. 

Captain Samuel H. Walker. 

This officer is one of those rare spirits which a state of war will bring out 
from our citizen soldiers. His late unequal conflict with the Mexicans, in which 
he lost nearly every man under his command, and his daring heroism in cutting 
his way to General Taylor's camp, have excited in the public mind a strong de- 
sire to know more of him. He is the same gentleman so frequently and honor- 
ably spoken of in General Green's journal of the Mier expedition. He is a na- 
tive of Washington City, from whence he went into the Florida war, where in 
several campaigns he distinguished himself by his intrepid bravery. In 1842 
he went to Texas, and during the invasion of that republic by General Wool, he 
was marked for his bold and daring conduct. After the Mexican General had 
retreated from San Antonio, and when he lay upon the Rio Hondo, Walker and 
Captain McCullough crawled through his camp one night, and spied out his po- 
sition, and the next day, with his gallant companion, Hays, led the attack upon 
his rear guard. He then joined the celebrated expedition against Mier ; and on 
the morning of that sanguinary battle, he, with three others — being the advance 
scout of the Texans — was taken prisoner, and carried, with his hands tied be- 
hind, to the head quarters of General Ampudia. The Mexican General ques- 
tioned him as to the Texan forces, and when Walker informed him that the 
Texans had only 300 men, Ampudia pompously replied, u Does that audacious 
handful of men presume to follow me into this strong place and attack me ?" 
" Yes," says Walker, " make yourself content on that subject, General, they will 
follow you into Hades and attack you there." He was, with his comrades, then 
marched to the city of Mexico. 

At Salado, with the lamented Captain Cameron, and Dr. Brenen, he led the 
attack upon the guard, overpowered them, and marched for Texas, when, after 
eating up all their horses and mules, surrendered to the Mexican Generals Mer- 
cier and Ortago. He was again marched to Salado, where, with his comrades, 
he was made to draw in the celebrated black bean lottery, and every tenth man 
was shot. Those that remained of the Texans were marched to the Castle of 
Perote and the city of Mexico. Here, while working on the streets in that city, 
he was struck by a Mexican corporal for not working faster, when, with his 
spade, he knocked down the corporal, which caused the guards to beat him 
nearly to death. His life was a long time despaired of, and upon his recovery 
he, with two companions, scaled the walls of his prison after nightfall, and made 



50 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE LATE CONTEST. 

his way to Texas, over a distance of more than a thousand miles. Before, how- 
ever, they got out of the country, they were twice more imprisoned, and each 
time effected their escape. When he reached Texas again, he joined Captain 
Hays, who, with fifteen others, armed with Colt's revolving pistols, fought 
against ninety-six Cumanches, and defeated them, leaving thirty-six killed upon 
the ground. Here Walker was run through the body with a Cumanche spear, 
and his life again despaired of. 

To such men Texas is indebted for her emancipation from Mexico. Few, as 
they are, they have won her liberty, and have miraculously maintained it for 
ten years against the boasted power of Mexico. 

Lieutenant Chadbourne. 

Lieutenant Theodore L. Chadbourne, of the 8th infantry, fell in the battle 
of Resaca de la Palma, on the 9th of May. He was the eldest, child and 
only son of Ichabod R. Chadbourne, Esq., a lawyer of respectability, of East- 
port, Me. His mother is a daughter of the Hon. Theodore Lincoln, of the 
adjoining town of Dennysville, who is the only surviving son of Gen. Benjamin 
Lincoln of the Revolutionary army. 

Lieutenant Chadbourne was born in Eastport, in the year 1822. He gradua- 
ted at West Point with in 1S44, and shortly after became attached to the army. 

In Lieutenant Chadbourne were combined a fine personal appearance, the 
address of a perfect gentleman ; singular amenity of manners, and the utmost 
probity of character. Nor was he lacking in the more commanding qualities. 
He possessed an intellect at once acute and well balanced, and a force of will 
and firmness of character eminently fitted for the duties of his hazardous pro- 
fession. In the words of Halleck, as quoted to us by one of his classmates, 
" none knew him but to love him, or named him but to praise." In his death, 
his country lost one of the most promising of her sons, and the American army 
an officer whose talents and character could not have failed to add lustre to its 
glorious escutcheon. His fate will call forth a sigh of regret from thousands 
who had never known him; and in his death his relatives and friends will have 
a source of affliction that can never be dried. 

The following account of his death is taken from a late number of the East- 
port Sentinel, and is extracted from a letter to the father of Lieut. Chadbourne, 
from one of his superior officers. 

" The melancholy duty devolves upon me to announce the death of your son, 
Lieut. Theo. L. Chadbourne, Sth Regiment U. S. Infantry. He was killed in 
the battle of the 9th of May, while gallantly leading his men to a charge upon 
the enemy, which drove them from their strong-hold, and put them to rout in 
awful confusion. Several other officers of his regiment were wounded. He 
was killed by a shot through the body, and fell into the arms of sergeant Bailey 
of the 8th Regiment. He exclaimed, — " Oh! Sergeant, I'm going; take my 
sword and watch" — he uttered no more. His body was brought into camp at 
this station, (camp near Matamoras) and interred with appropriate military hon- 
ers. The officers of the Regiment condole with you in this distressing afflic- 
tion ; for they have lost a comrade whom they loved. The sword-belt has a 
hole where the bullet penetrated and passed through the body." 

The following remarks from the Boston Courier we doubt not will be read 
with interest in this connection. 

" Among the killed in the late encounter of General Taylor with the Mexicans, 
we see the name of Lieut. Theodore Lincoln Chadbourne. He was a native 
of Eastport, Maine, and a great grandson of the celebrated General Lincoln, of 
the revolutionary army. He has fallen in the twenty-third year of his age, in 



SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE LATE CONTEST. 51 

the flush of youthful vigor, beauty and hop?. The pride of his doating parents 
and admiring sisters, young Chadbourne was also beloved by a large circle of 
relatives and friends in this city and State. There was something in his very 
presence, which converted even a transient acquaintance into a friend. His 
form and stature were the perfection of manly symmetry and grace ; and his 
fine, ingenuous countenance spoke the noblest traits of mind and heart. And 
the internal man corresponded to his prepossessing exterior. He was blameless 
in all the relations of life — a good son and a brother, and a fearless soldier — 
upright, clear-headed, warm-hearted and patriotic. What desolation will the 
news of his premature death carry to the amiable and affectionate circle, to 
which he was allied by the tenderest of human ties ! In the pathetic language 
of Lady Randolph, over the dead body of Douglas, will not the bereaved 
mother exclaim : — 

" My beautiful, my brave I" 

Lieut. Chadbourne graduated a year or two since at West Point. He appears 
to have fallen in the charge upon the chaparral, where the Mexicans were en- 
sconced, during General Taylor's march from Point Isabel. We have as yet, 
however, no particulars of his death. We only know that he has fallen in the 
discharge of his duty as a soldier, and in a manner worthy of the heroic blood, 
which beat in his young veins. Peace and honor to his memory. 

Lieutenant Cochrane. 

Lieutenant R. E. Cochrane was born in Delaware, and appointed, from the 
same state, as Second Lieutenant of the 4th Infantry, on the ISth of September, 
1838. In the action of the Sth of May, he commanded a company of the 4th 
infantry. His conduct, on that trying day, was marked by coolness and deci- 
sion. On the 9th, the 4th infantry, as it came up to the vicinity of Resaca de 
la Palma, was ordered to deploy on each side of the road, and to drive the ene- 
my out of the chaparral ; the right wing being wheeled to the right, and the left 
to the left. The company which Lieutenant Cochrane commanded composed a 
part of the left wing. He gallantly led them on, and in a few minutes was in 
the thickest of the fight. The Mexican lancers charged, and, in resisting that 
charge, he fell covered with wounds, and died instantly. He received nine 
wounds, each of which would have killed a man. 

Lieutenant Cochrane's loss was deeply deplored by the regiment on account of 
his amiable and conciliatory disposition. His body was found on the evening 
of the battle, and on the ensuing day was interred with military honors, on the 
very spot on which he fell. It was truly a soldier's grave. At the request of 
Captain Morrison, who was attached to the same mess with Lieutenant Coch- 
rane, a rude cross was erected over his grave, and Lieutenant Hayes, of the 4th 
infantry, had a rude paling built up around it. He leaves an interesting wife 
and one child, now among her connections in Arkansas. 

Lieutenant Inge. 

Lieutenant Zebulon M. P. Inge was a native of Alabama, (Tuscaloosa,) a grad- 
uate of the Military Academy at West Point. He entered the army in 1838, 
and was assigned, according to his own wishes and peculiar fitness for the ser- 
vice, to the second regiment of dragoons, then serving in Florida. Owing to 
the deficiency of officers in the Cherokee Nation — where several regiments of 
the army were stationed pending the removal of the Cherokees, under General 
Scott — Lieutenant Inge, together with several other officers of his regiment, was 
assigned to duty temporarily with the 4th regiment of Infantry, and was ordered 



52 SKETCHES OF SOME OF THE OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE LATE CONTEST. 

to report in person to General Scott. He served in the Cherokee Nation under 
the immediate eye of General Scott, in command of a company of mounted In- 
fantry, until the troops were withdrawn, when he joined his regiment in Florida, 
in the fall of 1838. His service in Florida during the Seminole War, was dis- 
tinguished by the most constant and active service in the field. At the termi- 
nation of the war, he followed his regiment to Fort Jesup, Louisiana. 

At the departure of his regiment from Fort Jesup, in July, 1845, to join Gen. 
Taylor at Corpus Christi, Lieut. Inge was selected to remain in charge of the 
public property and the sick. In February of the following year, the Fort was 
ordered to be abandoned, public property sold, and Lieut. Inge to join his regi- 
ment. In New Orleans he obtained permission to visit Washington City, for 
the purpose of settling his account with the Government. He availed himself 
of the occasion to conduct his wife, (formerly Miss Williams, of Maryland,) 
north, and leave her with her friends. Returning south, he arrived at Point 
Isabel just in time to join his company, and to be engaged in the charge at the 
battles of Resaca de la Palma, which resulted in his death. He was buried on 
the field of battle with the honours of arms. 

Lieut. Inge was amiable, honest, and brave — a good husband and a boon 
companion — a friend above all others. He had no children — was about 29 years 
of age. 

Lieutenant Stevens. 

Lieut. George Stevens, of the 2d Dragoons, and belonging to Captain May's 
company, after having been conspicuously active in the gallant charge made by 
that officer on the memorable 9th of May, was accidentally drowned in crossing 
the Rio Grande, while attempting to swim the river with his squadron. 

Lt. Stevens was born June 8, 1821. He graduated at the Military Academy, 
West Point, June, 1843. Previous to his receiving the appointment as Cadet, 
he was for some time a student at the Grammar School at Lyndon, and at the 
Newbury Seminary, also for a time a student at Peacham Academy. During 
the first four years of his absence he visited his parents twice. He left his home 
for the Army, Oct. 15, 1843, and joined his regiment at Fort Jesup, La. In 
August, 1844, the commanding officer at Fort Jesup received despatches from 
our Charge at Houston, Texas, — these despatches were entrusted to Lt. Stevens, 
and were by him brought to Washington. Lieut. S. was then sent by the exe- 
cutive with despatches to our Charge at Houston, Texas. He travelled on horse- 
back from Fort Jesup to Houston, and back again, near 800 miles, going and 
coming. The route he travelled in 16 days, and was detained 2 days at Hous- 
ton with his favorite gray horse, which he called " Ethan Allen." His regi- 
ment left Fort Jesup in July, 1845, for Corpus Christi : during this expedition, 
Lieut. S. officiated as Topographical Engineer. After arriving with his regi- 
ment at Corpus Christi, he was detached with 36 Dragoons to accompany the 
Paymaster of the American Army to San Antonio. For a portion of the time 
his regiment was at Corpus Christi, Lieut. S. officiated as Adjutant to his regi- 
ment. He marched with the American army to the Rio Grande, opposite Ma- 
tamoras, now Fort Brown. After said fort was completed, he marched with 
Gen. Taylor's Army to Point Isabel, May 2d. The next day he wrote to his 
parents giving the position of the two armies, and the probability of an imme- 
diate engagement. He belonged to Capt. May's company of Dragoons, which 
made some of the last and most desperate charges upon the Mexican artillery in 
the actions of the 8th and 9th, and in the latter captured the Mexican General 
Vega. In both of these actions Lieut. S. escaped unhurt. 



APPENDIX. 



Head Quarters, Army of Occupation, ) 
Corpus Christi, Texas, March 8, 1846. \ 

Orders No. 30. 

The Army of Occupation being about to take position on the left bank of the Rio 
Grande, under the orders of the Executive of the United States, the General Command- 
ing deems it proper to express his hope that the movement will prove beneficial to all 
concerned, and that nothing may be wanting on his part to ensure so desirable a result, 
he strictly enjoins on his command the most scrupulous regard for the rights of all per- 
sons who may be found in the peaceable pursuit of their respective avocations, residing 
on both banks of the Rio Grande ; no person under any pretence whatever will interfere 
in any manner with the civil rights or religious privileges of the people, but will pay 
the utmost respect to both. Whatever may be required for the use of the army will be 
purchased by the proper Departments at the highest market price. The General Com- 
manding is happy to say that he has entire confidence in the patriotism and discipline 
of the army under his command, and feels assured that his orders, as above expressed, 
will be strictly observed. Signed, Z. TAYLOR, 

Brevet Brig. Genl. Commanding. 



■ 

Head Quarters, Army of Occupation, i 
Point Isabel, May 4th, 1846. J 

Orders No. 54. 

The army will march at 3 o'clock to-day in the direction of Matamoras. It is known 
that the enemy has recently occupied the route in force — if still in position, the General 
will give them battle. 

The Commanding General has every confidence in his officers and men. If his orders 
and instructions are carried into effect, he has no doubt of the result, let the enemy meet 
him in what manner they may. He wishes to enjoin on the battalions of Infantry that 
their main dependence must be in the bayonets. By order of 

Brig. Genl. TAYLOR, 
Signed, W. W. Bliss, A. Adjt. Genl. 



Head Quarters, Army of Occupation, i 
Resaca de la Palma, May 10, 1846. j 

Orders No. 59. 

The Commanding General congratulates the army under his command upon the signal 
success which has crowned his recent operations against the enemy. - 

The coolness and steadiness of the troops during the action of the 8th, and the brilliant 
impetuosity with which the enemy's position and artillery were carried on the 9th, have 
displayed the best qualities of the American Soldier. 

To every officer and soldier of his command, the General publicly returns his thanks 
for the noble manner in which they have sustained the honour of the Service and the 
country. 

While the main body have been thus actively employed, the garrison left opposite 
Matamoras has rendered no less distinguished service by sustaining a severe command, 
and bombardment for many successive days. 

The army and country, whilst justly rejoicing in the triumph of our arms, will deplore 
the loss of many brave officers and men who fell gallantly in the hour of combat. 



64 



OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. 



It being necessary for the Commanding General to visit Point Isabel on public bu- 
siness, Col. Twiggs will assume command of the corps of the army near Matamoras, 
including the garrison of the field works. He will occupy the former lines of the army, 
making such dispositions for the comfort and defence of his command as he may deem 
advisable. 

He will hold himself strictly on the defensive until the return of the General. 

By order of Brig. Genl. TAYLOR, 

Signed, W. W. S. Bliss, A. A. Genl. 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Monday, July 13, 1846. 

THANKS OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL TAYLOR, HIS OFFICERS AND MEN. 

The amendment of the Senate to the joint resolution of the House, was concurred in 
and the resolution is as follows, viz : 

Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States oj 
America in Congress assembled, That the thanks of Congress are due, and are hereby 
tendered to Major General Zachary Taylor, commanding the army of occupation, his of- 
ficers and men, for the fortitude, skill, enterprise and courage which have distinguished 
the recent brilliant operations on the Rio Grande. 

Sec. 2. And be it further resolved, That Congress sincerely sympathizes with the rela- 
tives and friends of the officers and soldiers of the army of the United States, who so 
bravely fell in the service of their country on the Rio Grande. 

Sec. 3. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested 
to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communicated to General Taylor, and through 
him to the army under his command. 

Sec. 4. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be autho- 
rized and requested to have a medal of gold procured, with appropriate devices and in- 
scriptions thereon, and presented to General Taylor, in the name of the Republic, as a 
tribute due to his good conduct, valor, and generosity to the vanquished. 



Field report of the corps composing the army of occupation, commanded by Brevet Briga- 
dier General Z. Taylor, on the 8th of May, 1846. 

Commissioned officers, 177 ; non-commissioned officers, artificers, musicians and pri - 
vates, 2,111 ; aggregate, 2,228. 

Head-quarters, Army of Occupation, camp near Matamoras, May 6, 1846. 

Z. TAYLOR, 
Brevet Brig. General U. S. Army, Commanding. 
W. W. S. Bliss, Asst. Adjutant General. 



MEXICANS ENGAGED IN THE BATTLES OF THE EIGHTH AND NINTH. 

The official despatches of the Mexican generals, taken together, prove conclusively 
that they had over 5,000 men engaged against Gen. Taylor's force of 2,100. The pro- 
bability is that the Mexicans were at least 6,000 strong. It will be seen by the follow- 
ing extract from a despatch of Gen. Arista, that the Mexicans mustered 4,000 troops 
after the battles : 

" The file of documents contained in No. 1, will make known to your excellency our 
number of killed and wounded , and of the dispersed who have not yet presented them- 
selves, and that the corps of the army are re-united, forming a total of 4,000 men, in- 
cluding the prisoners received in exchange, and exclusive of the numerous reinforcements 
whose reports have not yet come in at the moment when this express is despatched." 



OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. 



LIST OF OFFICERS AND MEN KILLED AND WOUNDED. 



Return of the killed, wounded and missing 
of the Army of Occupation, at the action of 
Palo Alto, May 8, 1846. 



Kild Wo'ded Mis 



Head-quarters, 
Ring-gold's Art'y, 

2d Dragoons, 

3d Infantry, 

4th Infantry, 

5th Infantry, 

Duncan's Artill'y, 
Battalion of Art'y 
8th Infantry, 



Aggregate, - 



m § 
° » 

si 

o 3 



41 



Return of killed, wounded and missing of 
the Army of Occupation at the action of 
Resaca de la Raima, May 9th, 1846. 



Head-quarters 
Adv. McCall, 
Ridgely's Art 
2d Dragoons, 
3d Infantry, - - 
4th Infantry,- ■ 
5th Infantry ,- 
Duncan's Art 
Battal. of Art 
8th Infantry,- • 



9 1 44li Aggregate, - 



36 



a | 

a 3 
° S 



g ft 
8-2 



1 

15 
4 
8 
4 
5 

19 

5 
25 



12 71 



3 £ 



39 82 



* Major Ringgold, since dead, f Captain Page, since dead. { LieHit. Luther, slightly. 
Fourteen horses were killed and four wounded. 



Twenty horses were killed and 19 wounded in this engagement. 
N. B. The killed and wounded of the " advance" being included in their own regi- 
ments, are omitted in the aggregate. 
Head-quarters, Army of Occupation, camp near Matamoras, May 16, 1846. 

Z. TAYLOR, 
Bt. Brig. General U. S. A., Commanding. 

W. W. Bliss, Assist. Adj. General. 



A PROCLAMATION, 

BY THE GENERAL COMMANDING THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ; TO THB 

PEOPLE OF MEXICO. 

After many years of patient endurance, the United States are at length constrained to 
acknowledge, that a war now exists between our Government and the Government of 
Mexico. 

For many years our citizens have been subjected to repeated insults and injuries ; our 
vessels and cargoes have been seized and confiscated ; our merchants have been plundered, 
maimed, imprisoned, without cause and without reparation. At length your Govern- 
ment acknowledged the justice of our claims, and agreed by treaty to make satisfaction, 
by payment of several millions of dollars ; but this treaty has been violated by your 
rulers, and the stipulated payments have been withheld. 

Our late effort to terminate all difficulties by peaceful negotiation has been rejected by 
the dictator Paredes, and our Minister of peace, whom your rulers had agreed to receive. 



56 OFFICIAL DESPATCHES. 

has been refused a hearing-. He has been treated with indignity and insult, and Pare 

des has announced that war exists between us. 

This war, thus first proclaimed by him, has been acknowledged as an existing fact by 
our President and Congress, with perfect unanimity, and will be prosecuted with vigor 
and energy against your army and rulers ; but those of the Mexican people who remain 
neutral will not be molested. 

Your Government is in the hands of tyrants and usurpers. They have abolished 
your state Governments ; they have overthrown your federal constitution ; they have 
deprived you of the right of suffrage ; destroyed the liberty of the press ; despoiled you 
of your arms ; and reduced you to a state of absolute dependence upon the power of a 
military dictator. 

Your army and rulers extort from the people by grievous taxation, by forced loans 
and military seizures, the very money which sustains the usurpers in power. Being 
disarmed, you were left defenceless, an easy prey to the savage Cumanches, who not 
only destroy your lives and property, but drive into a captivity more horrible than death 
itself, your wives and children. It is your military rulers who have reduced you to this 
deplorable condition. 

It is these tyrants and their corrupt and cruel satellites, gorged with the people's trea- 
sure, by whom you are thus oppressed and impoverished, some of whom have boldly 
advocated a monarchial Government,- and would place a European Prince upon the 
throne of Mexico. 

We come to obtain a reparation for repeated wrongs and injuries — we come to obtain 
indemnity for the past, and security for the future — we come to overthrow the tyrants 
who have destroyed your liberties — but we come to make no war upon the people of 
Mexico, nor upon any form of free government they may choose to select for themselves. 

It is our wish to see you liberated from despots, to drive back the savage Cumanches, 
to prevent the renewal of their assaults, and to compel them to restore to you from cap- 
tivity your long lost wives and children. Your religion, your altars and churches, the 
property of your churches and citizens, the emblems of your faith and its ministers, shall 
be protected and remain inviolate. 

Hundreds of our army, and hundreds of thousands of our people, are members of the 
Catholic Church. In every state, and in nearly every city and village of our Union, 
Catholic Churches exist, and the priests perform their holy functions, in peace and se- 
curity, under the sacred guarantee of our Constitution. 

We come among the people of Mexico as friends and republican brethren, and all 
who receive us as such shall be protected, whilst all who are seduced into the army of 
your Dictator shall be treated as enemies. We shall want from you nothing but food 
for our army, and for this you shall always be paid in cash the full value. It is the set- 
tled policy of your tyrants to deceive you in regard to the policy and character of our 
Government and people. 

These tyrants fear the example of our free institutions, and constantly endeavor to 
misrepresent our purposes, and inspire you with hatred for your republican brethren of 
the American Union. Give us but the opportunity to undeceive you, and you will soon 
learn that all the representations of Paredes were false, and were only made to induce 
you to consent to the establishment of a despotic Government 

In your struggles for liberty with the Spanish monarchy, thousands of our country- 
men risked their own lives and shed their blood in your defence. Our own commodore, 
the gallant Porter, maintained in triumph your flag upon the ocean, and our Government 
was the first to acknowledge your independence. 

With pride and pleasure we enrolled your name on the list of independent republics, 
and sincerely desired that you might in peace and prosperity enjoy all the blessings of 
free government. Success on the part of your tyrants against the army of the Union is 
impossible, but if they could succeed it would only be to enable them to fill your towns 
with their soldiers, eating out your substance and harassing you with still more grievous 
taxation. 

Already they have abolished the liberty of the press as the first step toward the intro- 
duction of that monarchy which it is their real purpose to proclaim and establish. 

Mexicans, we must treat as enemies and overthrow the tyrants who, while they have 
wronged and insulted us, have deprived you of your liberty ; but the Mexican people 
who remain neutral during the contest, shall be protected against their military despots 
by the republican army of the Union. Z.TAYLOR, 

Major General U. S. A., Commanding. 



GRATUITOUS CIRCULATION. 



^wx^l^ 

®S'S * BBftff Bllt I 



OF 



CHEAP, USEFUL, AND STANDARD 



PAMPHLETS, MAGAZINES, PERIODICALS, 

MUSIC, &c, &c. 



KT All Books, Pamphlets, Magazines, &c, in paper covers, and weighing less than eight 
ounces each part or volume, may be received By Mail in any part of the United States, at a 
trifling postage, under the present law, of from two to ten cents each volume, according to their 
weight. 

Orders, enclosing the cash, (gold, silver, or current bank notes,) post-paid, addressed to H. 
LONG AND BROTHER, New- York, will be promptly attended to. A discount of 20 per 
cent, on all remittances of $5 and upwards. 



CIRCULAR TO THE BOOK TRADE. 

HENRY LONG & BROTHER beg leave to announce to the Book Trade throughout 
the United States that they have established an agency at 32 Ann-Street, New- York, for the 
supply of country orders for every article in the trade at Publishers' prices. It is the intention 
of the undersigned to make the agency which they propose to establish a separate and indepen- 
dent branch of the book trade, and the advantage which will thereby result to distant dealers, 
who require a special care and immediate dispatch bestowed upon particular orders, will be at 
once apparent. 

The undersigned have no hesitation in assuring such of the Trade as may feel disposed to 
favor them with their business, that their commands will receive an attention that must neces- 
sarily give perfect satisfaction. 

HENRY LONG, 
EVERT D. LONG. 

References: 

Messrs. Harper & Brothers, . Messrs. Carey & Hart, , 

« Wiley & Putnam, > New-York. " Lea & Blanchard, i Philadelphia. 

" Burgess, Stringer & Co. 5 '* Ferrett & Co. 5 



NEW- YORK i 

H. LONG & BROTHER, 

Publishers' Agents, and General Dealers in Cheap Publications, 
No 32 ANN STREET, 



I. J. Oliver, Printer, corner of Ann and Nassau -Streets, 



CATALOGUE OF BOOKS 



FOR SALE BY 



II. LONG & BROTHER, SO. 32 ANN-STREET, NEW-YORK. 



"Books wMch are Boo&s." 



A New Class of beautiful and valuable books, cheap as compared with the publications of 
former years, but superior in elegance to many of those of a recent period, is now in course of 
publication, by several houses in New- York and Philadelphia. These works are nearly uniform 
in size, post octavo, varying slightly from the common duodecimo, and are printed upon fine, 
thick paper, presenting an elegant appearance. These volumes contain from 150 to 350 pages 
varying in price from 25 to 75 cents per volume, in paper, in which style the prices are given, 
when not otherwise noted, in this catalogue. The best English muslin binding makes an addi- 
tion of 25 cents a volume to these pi ices. 

We place at the head of this list of books, Messrs. Carey & Hart's " LIBRARY FOR THE 
PEOPLE," a collection of Popular Histories, Memoirs of Eminent Persons, Voyages and Trav- 
els, &c, excluding fiction in course of issue. Each work will appear in its integrity, without al- 
teration or omission, at prices, varying from 25 to 50 cents a volume. The following numbers 
are already announced. 



1. History of the Bastile. 

2. Curiosities of Physical Geography. 

3. Aikin's Memoir3 of Addison. 

4. History of the Conquest of Peru by the 

Spaniards. 

5. Palgrave's History of the Anglo-Saxons. 

6. Green's Life of Mahomet. 

7. Reid's Philosophy of Death. 

8. Historical Memoirs of the House of Bour- 

bons. 

9. Achievements of the Knights of Malta. 

10. Morehead's Dialogues on Natural and 

Revealed Religion. 

11. Lives of the British Dramatists. 



12. Corner's China. 

13. Holling's Life of Gustavus Adolphus. 

14. Davenport's Life of Ali Pacha. 

15. Corner's British India. 

16. Carrick's Life of Sir William Wallace. 

17. History of Gustavus Vasa. 

18. Life of Hernando Cortez. 

19. Hays' Morocco and the Moors. 

20. Tytler's Life of Henry the Eighth. 

2L History of Remarkable Conspiracies con- 
nected with European History. 

22. Autoun's Life of Richard the Lion-Hearted. 

23. Proctor's History of Italy. 



WILEY & PUTNAM'S " LIBRARY OF AMERICAN BOOKS," nearly uniform in 
size and appearance with the foregoing — forms a very elegant series, of which the following are 
already published : 

$ cts. 

No. 1. Journal of an African Cruiser. 

Edited by Nathaniel Haw- 
thorne 50 

2. Tales. By Edgar A. Poe 50 

3. Letters from Italy. By J. T. 

Headley. 50 



4,12. The "Wigwam and the Cabin. 
By W. Gilmore Simms, 2 parts. 

5. Big Abel and Little Manhattan. 

By Cornelius Mathews 

6. Wanderings of a Pilgrim under 

the Shadow of Mont Blanc. 



$ cts. 



1 00 



25 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



3 



By the Rev. George B. Cheever, 
D.D 

7. Western Clearings. By Mrs. C. 

M. Kirkland 

8. The Raven and Other Poems. 

By Edgar A. Poe 

9. Views and Reviews in American 

History, Literature, and Fic- 
tion. By W. Gilmore Simms, 



$ cts. 



.38 



50 



31 



50 



10. The Alps and the Rhine. By J. 

T. Headley 

11. Wanderings of a Pilgrim under 

the Shadow of the Jungfrau. 
By the Rev. George B. Cheever, 

D.D 

13, 14. Typee : a Residence in the Mar- 
quesas Island, 2 parts 

15. The Wilderness and the War- 
Path. By Judge Hall. 



$ cts. 



50 



50 



75 



50 



W. & P.'s " LIBRARY OF CHOICE READING," uniform with the above, and an ad- 
mirable collection of the choice works of Modern Literature, consists, as far as published, of the 
following works. 



$ cts. 

No. 1. Eothen 50 

2. Amber Witch 37£ 

3. Undine and Sintram '. — 50 

4. Imagination and Fancy 50 

5. Diary of Lady Willoughby 25 

6, 9 . Hazlitt's Table Talk . 2 parts .... 75 

7. Headlong Hall 37£ 

8. French in Algiers 37^ 

10. Ancient Moral Tales 37£ 

11, 12. Crescent and the Cross, 2 parts... 1 00 

13. Hazlitt's Age of Elizabeth 50 

14,20. Leigh Hunt's Indicator, 2 parts.. 1 00 

15, 27. Zschokke's Tales, 2 parts 1 00 

16,19. Hood's Prose and Verse, 2 parts. 75 

18. Tupper's Crock of Gold 37£ 

17. Hazlitt's Characters of Shak- 

speare 

21. Wilson's Genius of Burns 

22,23. Lamb's Essays of Elia,2 parts..., 

24. Bubbles from the Brunnen 

25,59. Hazlitt's Table Talk. 2d series 
2 parts 



50 
50 
75 
50 

1 00 



PAINE & BURGESS have published, in 
MEDICI SERIES OF ITALIAN PROSE," 

$ cts. 

Ettore Fieramosca, or the Challenge of 

Barletta, by Massimo d'Azeglio 50 

This brilliant romance relates to one of the most ex- 
citing periods of Italian History, and introduces most of 
the remarkable persons of that day, such as the Cheva- 
lier Bayard, Cesar Borgia, Pope Alexander YL, Gonsal- 
vo De Cordova, &c, &c. The descriptions of the glori- 
ous land of Italy are eminently graphic, and of surpass- 
ing beauty. 

The Florentine Histories, by Nicolo Ma- 

chiavelli, 2 vols 1 00 

The Citizen of a Republic, by Ansalda 

Ceba 50 

This work embodies the most thoroughly republican 

sentiments, and inculcates those democratic principles 

which are the vital power of our institutions. 



$ cts. 

26. Montagu's Selections 50 

27. Tupper's Twins and Heart 50 

28. Hazlitt's Comic Writers 50 

29,30. Lamb's Dramatic Poets, 2 parts.. 1 00 
31,32. Tupper's Proverbial Philosophy.. 50 

33. Vicar of Wakefield 1 00 

34, 35. Mahon's Life of Conde 75 

35. Hazlitt's English Poets . 50 

• 36. " \ t " u f J . : 50 

38. Book of Christmas 50 

39,42. Carlyie's Cromwell. 4 parts .... 2 00 
43,44. Benvenuto Cellini's Autobio- 
graphy 1 00 

45, 46. Rhine: By Victor Hugo 75 

47. Father Ripa's China 37£ 

48,49. Fairfax's Tasso, 2 parts 1 00 

50, 51. Blanchard's Sketches, 2 parts .... 75 

52, 54. Hunt's Italian Poets, 2 parts 1 13 

55. Dicken's Cricket on the Hearth 25 
56, 57. Keat's Poetical Works, 2 parts... 75 

58. Notes of Journey. By Titmarsh. 37£ 
60, 61. Thiodolf the Icelander, &c 75 

nearly the same style as the foregoing, " THE 
and other works, mostly American. 



$ cts. 
50 



Autobiography of Vittorio Alfleri 

This Strange Book reveals all the secrets of the soul 
of the master spirit of Modern Italy. The heart-felt 
enthusiasm, the poetry, the music, the earnest pas- 
sions, and the wild love scenes of that beautiful land, 
all breathe from its pages. 

Prairiedom: Rambles and Scrambles in 
Texas and New Estremadura, by a 
Suthron. With a map 38 

The Artist, Merchant, and Statesman, 

by C. Edwards Lester, 2 vols 1 00 

We have read no work on Art comparable to this.— 
N. Y. Mirror. 

" We have dwelt with delight on those pages of Pow- 
ers' Memoirs, which contain his impressions of Art. 



4 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



He speaks of Art as we can imagine a Plato to have 
taught Philosophy. He invests it with a charm that is 
truly wonderful. — N. O. Tropic. 

Rambles by Land and water, or Notes 
of Travel in Cuba and Mexico • inclu- 
ding a canoe voyage up the River 
Panuco, and Researches among the 
Antiquities in Taumalipas, by B. M. 
Norman, 1 vol 

Trippings in Authorland, by Fanny For 

ester . 

Every page sparkles with gladness, and beams with 

pleasant thoughts, and lovely pictures of domestic 

joys. 

MONTEZUMA, The Last of the Aztecs, 
an Historical Romance of the Conquest 
of Mexico, by Edward Maturin, 2 vols. 1 00 
This is a Romance of uncommon power and deep in- 



1 00 



50 



terest. The author is a son of the celebrated author 
of Bertram, &c, It is a work which wakes up passion 
in the sonl of every reader : no man who reads it can 
forget it ; one year or ten years will not blot its finely 
drawn scenes from the memory. They will live as 
Walter Scott's battle-peices live in the memories of the 
millions who have read them. The work abounds with 
glowing descriptions of the gorgeous scenery of the par- 
adise land of Mexico. The incident is rich and varied 
The Greece of the Greeks, by G. A. Per- 
dicaris, two vols. 12mo., illustrated — 

cloth 1 50 

The Old Continental ; or, the Price of 
Liberty, by the Author of" The Dutch- 
man's Fireside." „ 



The name of Paulding requires no eulogy. 

Over the Ocean ; or, Glimpses of Travel 
in Many Lands, by a Lady of New- 
York 



75 



50 



Of elegant, cheap, and useful books, of a similar style of publication, by various houses, the 
following list includes the most popular, and such as are likely to command the widest circula- 
tion. 



$ cts. 

Mrs. Child's History of Woman, 2 vols. 

each 50 

Biographies of Good Wives 50 

Tuckerman's Thoughts on the Poets 50 

Talfourd's Tragedies and Poems 50 

Life of Mrs. Hemans, 50 

Whewell's Elements of Morality, 2 parts, 

each 50 

Denby's Philosophy of Mystery 50 

Holmes' Life of Mozart 50 

Ascent of Mount Ararat 50 

Mackenzie's Life of Paul Jones, 2 parts, 

each 50 

Wisdom and Genius of Burke 50 

Miss Fuller's Woman in the 19th Centu- 

tury ... 50 

Carlyle's Life of Schiller. 50 

Zschokke's Incidents of Social Life 50 

Gertrude, Edited by Rev. W. Se well .... 50 

The Betrothed, by Manzoni, 2 vols, each 50 
Memoirs of an American Lady, by Mrs. 

Grant , 50 

Gilfillian's Sketches of Literature, 2 parts, 

each 50 

Ly ell's Travels in America 75 

Lane's Mysteries of Tobacco..., 37 

Junkin on the Oath, cloth 63 

Bush on the Resurrection, cloth 1 00 

Correspondence of Schiller and Goethe 

cloth , , l 00 

Newman's Human Magnetism, cloth.... 1 00 

Rome ; as seen by a New-Yorker, cloth. 75 



Vestiges of Creation do 

Sequel to do do 

Cooper's Naval Biography 

Guizot's History of the English Revolu- 
tion, 2 vols., each 

Tapper's Proverbial Philosophy 

Local Loiterings, by the author of " Pen 
and Ink Sketches," 

Simm's Views and Reviews of American 
History 

Knickerbocker Sketch Book 

Lord Brougham's Lives of Men of Let- 
ters 

Do Second series ..- 

Grattan's Pen and Ink Sketches 

Anthon's Pilgrimage to Treves, cloth 

Lord Brougham on Instinct 

Poetical remains of Miss Lucretia M. 
Davidson, by Miss Sedgwick 

Poetical Remains of Margaret M. Da- 
vidson, by Irving , 

Writings of Mrs.. Davidson 

Loves of the Poets, Mrs. Jameson 

Elinor Wyllis, by Miss Cooper 

Mrs. Child's Letters from New-York, 
1st and 2d series, each 

Silliman's Gallop among American Sce- 
nery 

Brougham's French Revolution 

Life of Woman, by Madame de Saus- 
sure 

Picciola 



$ cts. 
75 
50 
50 

50 
50 

37£ 

50 
50 

50 
50 
50 
75 
50 

50 

50 
50 
75 
75 

75 

75 
50 

65 
65 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



5 



Mills' History of Chivalry 

Cruisades 

Cheever and Lewis on Capital Punish- 
ment 

Philothea, by Mrs. Child 

The People, from the French of M. Mi- 
chelet 

Guizot's History of Civilization in Eu- 
rope, 2 parts, each 



cts. 
75 
75 

50 
50 

37i 

37-J 



$ cts. 

Life of Martin Luther. Michelet.. . , 50 

Roman Republic. do 50 

Dick's Practical Astronomer, cloth 50 

Criminal Trials in Bavaria do 50 

Darwin's Voyage of a Naturalist do 50 

Life in Prairie Land. Mrs. Farnham, do 50 

The Bible, the Koran, the Talmud do 50 

Barrow's Arctic Voyages do 50 

Bell's Life of Canning do 50 



HUMOROUS ILLUSTRATED WORKS. 

Most of the American works in the following list are illustrated with admirable designs by 
Darley. The others are by Leech and other English artists. They are all 12mo. in paper cov- 
ers, mostly of fanciful designs. 



Adventures of Capt. Simon Suggs, &c... 

Adventures of Gilbert Gurney 

Theatrical Apprenticeship of Sol Smith- 
Pickings from the Portfolio of the Re- 
porter of the New-Orleans Picayune... 
My Shooting Box, by Frank Forrester, 

(Herbert) 50 

Aunt Pattey's Scrap Bag, by Caroline 

Lee Hentz 

Mysteries of the Backwoods, by T. B. 

Thorpe 

The Comic Blackstone, by Gilbert A. 

Becket 50 

Bowl of Punch, 70 illustrations 50 

Bachelor's own Book, 24 plates 25 

Big Bear of Arkansas, designs by Darley 50 

Chronicles of Pineville, 12 plates 50 

Neal's Charcoal Sketches, illustrated 25 

Major Jones' Courtship 50 

Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures 12 

Punch's Medical Student, 2 parts 50 



50 



50 



50 





$ cts. 




25 




25 




12 




25 




25 




25 




25 



Peter Ploddy, by J. C. Neal, illus. by 

Darley 

Quarter Race in Kentucky.. 

Story of a Feather, Douglas Jerrold 

Cruikshank's Omnibus 

More good things from Cruikshank's Om- 
nibus 

The Gentleman in Black 

Halliburton's Yankee Stories 

Obadiah Oldbuck's Extravagant, 100 en- 
gravings 

Bachelor Butterfly's Courtship, 100 en- 
gravings 



50 
50 

25 
25 

25 
25 
50 

25 

25 



CURIOUS, SCIENTIFIC, AND USEFUL WORKS. 

The following list includes a great variety of Books of Science, the Arts, Domestic Economy, 
etc., of a popular character, and in a greater or less degree useful. To the titles of some of the 
more important of these works descriptive notes are appended. 

$ cts. 



PHISIOLOGY, MEDICINE, Etc. 

Phrenology Proved, Illustrated, and Ap- 
plied: By O, S. Fowler. 12mo. 500 
pages, forty engravings 

Religion, Natural, and Revealed ; or the 
Moral Bearings of Phrenology, com- 
pared with those enjoined in the Scrip- 
tures : by O. S. Fowler 

Memory and Intellectual Improvement : 
With directions for cultivating and ex- 



1 00 



50 



panding the intellectual powers ; Illus- 
trated 

Love and Parentage : Applied to the 
improvement of Offspring, including 
important directions and suggestions 
to Lovers and the Married, By O. S. 
Fowler 

Combe's Physiology : With notes and ob- 
servations by O. S, Fowler, from the 
last Edinburgh edition, illustrated, 320 
pages, octavo 



$ cts. 



50 



25 



75 



6 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



Amativeness : or, the evils and remedies 
of excessive and perverted sexuality, 
including warning and advice to the 
Married and Single ; being a Supple- 
ment to Love and Parentage 12 

Matrimony : by O. S. Fowler : or Phre- 
nology and Physiology applied to the 
selection of congenial companions for 
life '. 24 

Synopsis of Phrenology and Physiology, 
L. N. Fowler ; comprising a conden- 
sed description of the functions of the 
body and mind ; also the additional 
discoveries made by the aid of magnet- 
ism and neurology. Illustrated 12 

Marriage : or the principles of Phreno- 
logy and Physiology applied to man's 
social relation, by L. N. Fowler 25 

Phrenological Guide : Designed for Stu- 
dents for their own characters. Most 
of the organs are illustrated with two 
engravings, showing each organ, large 
and small 12 

Phrenology and Physiology ; Applied to 
Temperance, or the laws of life and 
health; of Which upwards of twenty 
thousand have been sold 6 

Tight Lacing: Or the evils of compress- 
ing the organs of animal life, and 
thereby enfeebling the vital functions.. 6 

Synopsis of Phrenology : Designed for 
the use of Practical Phrenologists. 
Illustrated by a large number of en- 
gravings, illustrative of the science. 
($4 per 100.) . 6 

The Phrenological Journal : Of 32 large 
octavo pages, on good paper and type, 
amply illustrated with engravings, 
adapted to all classes, old or young, 
rich or poor, will be found very instruc- 
tive and useful to all. Terms, per an- 
num, in advance 1 00 

The Phrenological and Physical Al- 
manac, is published annually by Fow- 
lers & Wells, at 6 cts per copy, or 
25 for $1. The trade supplied at the 
usual discount. 

Note. — The above works, by the celebrated Fowlers 
& Wells, are obtaining a large circulation, and where 
not kept by booksellers, may be ordered of H. Long & 
Brother, by mail, cash enclosed, and postage paid in all 
cases. 



Townsend's Facts in Mesmerism 75 

Mesmerism, its Use, Progress, and Mys- 
teries 25 



Human Magnetism ; its claims to dispas- 
sionate enquiry — Newnham — cloth.... 1 

Deleuze's Animal Magnetism, cloth 1 

Grimes' Philosophy of Mesmerism and 

Phrenology, cloth 1 

Phrenological Gem — the Science in Min- 

ature, cloth 

Miss Martineau on Mesmerism 

Pereira on Food and Diet 1 

Becklard's Physiology 1 

Porneo Pathology ; a truly excellent and 
scientific work on certain delicate dis- 



Walker on Beauty, curious plates. 

Broussais' Self Preservation 

Childbirth without Pain 



75 
50 
50 
50 



Many thousands of this remarkable work have been 
sold, and it is of universal importance. Dealers will do 
well to order of us, and it may be sent by mail to those 
who cannot procure it otherwise. 

Griscom's Animal Mechanism 50 

Chavasse's Advice to Mothers.. ; 38 

" « Wives 38 

Abernethy's Family Physician 25 

Infant Treatment 25 

Thermal Comfort 12J 

Curtis on the Sight 12£ 

Magendie's Formulary 50 

Philip on Chronic Diseases 1 00 

Parker on Stomach and Syphilis 1 50 

Stammering and Squinting, by Dr. Post. 50 
Castle's Manuel of Surgery. NewEdi- 

tien 1 00 

Deformity of the Spine, by Dr. Duffin — 50 

Martinet's Therapeutics 50 

Medical Formulary, by Dr. Ratier 50 

Operative Midwifery, by Hutin 50 

Thompson's Management of the Sick 

Room j 1 00 

Durlacher on Corns, Bunions, etc .. 50 

Hand Book of the Water Cure 50 

Hydropathy or the Water Cure. Shew. 87 

Health and Beauty..; 50 

Teall on Neuralgia 50 

Physicians and Druggists Receipt Book. 10 

Philosophy of Health 12 

Mesmerism and its Opponents 37 

Lefevre on.Colds, Coughs, etc 12 

Animal Magnetism. Lang 25 

Facts and Arguments on the Transmis- 
sion of Intellectual and Moral Quali- 
ties 37 

Hydropathy 18 

Physiology of Health 12 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S 



CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



7 



Dixon on the Diseases of the Sexual Or- 
gans 1 00 

Alphabet of Phrenology 25 

Quacks and Quackery 12 

Hints to Mothers for the Management of 
Health during the period of Pregnan- 
cy, and in the Lying-in-room ; with an 
exposure of popular errors in connex- 
ion with those subjects, by Thomas 
Bull, M.D. Fifth edition, 1 vol. 18mo. 

cloth 50 

The same, in paper 38 

Hydropathy for Ladies 50 

The Philosophy of Marriage, by Michael 

Ryan 50 

The Institutes of marriage, its Intent, 
Obligations, and Physical and Consti- 
tutional disqualifications, by'R. J. Cul- 
vermell, M.D 50 



This is really an admirable work, and contains all 
the information necessary upon these important and 



delicate matters. It may be ordered by mail. 
The philosophy of the Water Cure, illus- 

lustrated 25 

Conditions of Health and Long Life 12^ 

The Wedding Night 25 

Physic and Physicians, 2 parts, each 25 

ARTS AND SCIENCES. 

Encyclopedia Americana, 13 vols 20 00 

Brande's Dictionary of Science, Litera- 
ture, and Art 4 00 

Ure, Dr. Dictionary of Art, Manufac- 
tures, and Mines ; illustrated with 

1240 cuts, 1 vol. 8vo 5 50 

Or in 2 vols, with Supplement 6 50 

Supplement to Do., Svo. 200 cuts, sheep. 1 50 
Cooley's Cyclopaedia of 6000 Receipts in 
the Arts, Manufactures, and Trades, 

8vo. sheep . 2 20 

Ewbank's Hydraulics and Mechanics. 

300 plates, 8vo 3 50 

Hodge on Steam Engine. Folio and 8vo. 

2 vols 10 00 

Lefevre's Beauties of Modern Architec- 
ture, 48 plates 6 00 

Fresenius' Elements of Chemical Analy- 
sis 75 

Walker's Manipulations on the Scienti- 
fic Arts, 4 parts, each 35 

Fisher's Photogenic Manipulations 50 

Gregory's Mathematics for Practical Men 1 75 

Vail's Magnetic Telegraph 75 

Encyclopaedia of Chemistry, in 20 parts, 
each 25 



Lieut. Ward on Ordnance and Steam 2 50 

Hand Book of Oil Painting for Young 

Artists and Amateurs 1 50 

Gouraud's Mnemonics 2 00 

Chemistry applied to the Arts. Parnell. 1 00 

Astronomy and General Physics 50 

Popular Lectures on Science and Art, by 

Dr. Lardner, in 10 parts, each 25 



The demand for this excellent work is constantly in- 
creasing. It is got out in handsome style and beauti- 



fully illustrated. 

Lectures on Astronomy. Arago and 

Lardner 25 

Cyclopaedia of Practical receipts, in parts, 

each 25 

Chemistry and Philosophy 25 

Parnham on Locomotive engines and 

Railways 1 25 

Forrey's Meteorlogy 25 

American House Carpenter 2 00 

The United States Complete Practical 
Receipt Book. This work contains all 
the most recent and valuable improve- 
ments in Manufactures, Agriculture, 

and Domestic Economy, paper 50 

Cloth and Sheep 7. 80 

Of this excellent work over 5000 copies have been 
sold the past year. 

Gilroy's Art of Weaving, splendidly illus- 
trated 5 00 

Totten on Mortars and lime burning 1 50 

Chemistry and Philosophy — Fire, Air, 

Earth, Water — with engravings 25 

Natural History of Insects 25 

Whewell's Indications of a Creator... 25 

LyelPs Lectures on Geology 25 

Engineer's Text Book, and Mechanic's 

Pocket Guide . 75 

Real Nature of the Electric Fluid 12£ 

AGRICULTURE, Etc. 
The Farmer's Library and Monthly Jour- 
nal of Agriculture. John S. Skinner 
Editor, published in Monthly parts at 
50 cents a number, or one year. 5 00 



This is probably the best work of the kind in the 
world. 

A Treatise on Milch Cows, whereby the 
• quality and quantity of milk which any 
cow will give may be accurately as- 



certained. Numerous engravings 37^ 

This is a truly extraordinary, and to dairy farmers 
and breeders, a highly important work. 

The Silk Culture 25 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



8 

Kitchen and Fruit Gardener 25 

Falkner on Manures and Agricultural 
Chemistry, 12mo. paper, 37£ cents, 

cloth 50 

Productive Farming, A work on Tillage, 

by Joseph A. Smith, 12mo. paper 31 m 

cents, cloth 50 

Farmer's Treasure, Comprising the above 

works bound together, l2mo. cloth.... 75 
Rural Economy in its relation with 
Chemistry, Physics, and Meteorology, 
by B, Bouissangault. Translated by 

G. Law, 12mo 1 50 

Marshall's Farmers' Hand Book, l2mo. 

illus 1 00 

The Farmer's Mine 50 

Leibig's Agricultural Chemistry 25 

" Animal Chemistry 25 

" Familiar letters on Chemistry... 12 

Bement's American Poulterer's Comp.... 1 37 

Bushy on Grape Vines and Vineyards ... 50 

American Flower Garden Directory 1 25 

Buist on the Culture of the Rose 75 

Farmer's Encyclopaedia, 17 plates, 16 

parts, each 25 

Bevan on the Bee 31 

Hannam's Waste Manures 25 

Bees, Pigeons, Rabits, &c. ; Manage- 
ment, Profit, &c 37 

Blacklock's Treatise on Sheep 50 

Boswell's Poultry Yard 37 

Downing's Landscape Gardening 3 50 

" Fruits and Fruit Trees of 

America « 1 50 

Youatt on the Horse, Skinner 1 75 

Youatt and Clater's Cattle and Sheep 

Doctor 50 

Clater's Horse Doctor 50 

Knowlton's Farrier 25 

Cattle Doctor 25 

Complete Florist 25 

" Gardener 25 

Both bound together 50 

Stable Talk and Table Talk 1 00 

Gray's Practical Agriculture 

Stewart's Stable Economy 1 00 

Chaptal's Agricultural Chemistry.. 50 

Farmer's and Emigrants' Hand Book 50 

Smith's Productive Pruning 31 

Falkner on Manures 37 

Armstrong's Agriculture 50 

Johnston's Agricultural Chemistry. Lec- 
tures on Agricultural Chemistry and 
Geology, by J. F. W. Johnson, Profes- 
sor of Chemistry and Geology I 25 



COOKERY, Etc, 

Miss Leslie's House Book, or Manual of 



Domestic Economy 1 00 

Cooks' Own Book, or House Keepers 

Register 1 00 

Hand Book of Carving 25 

Seventy-five Receipts for Pastry 38 

Encyclopaedia of Domestic Economy, 12 

parts, each 25 

Mrs, Acton's Modern Cookery 1 00 

Sanderson's Complete Cook 25 

Complete Confectioner 25 

Miss Leslie's Domestic French Cookery. 25 
The French Cook, translated from the 
French, with the names of every dish 

in French and English 25 

Mrs. Ellis' Housekeeping. 12£ 

Miss Leslie's Complete System of Cook- 
ery 1 00 

Mrs. Rundle's Cookery 25 

Keeping House, by Mrs. Hall 25 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

French without a Master 25 

German " " 25 

Spanish « " 25 

Italian " « 25 

Latin " " 25 

Comic English Grammer 25 

Poet's Companion, a Rhyming Dictiona- 
ry 25 

Ladies' Work Table book 50 

Hand Book of the Toilet 12£ 

" Self instructor in Millinary 12£ 

" Guide to Embroidery... 12£ 

" Work Box Companion — Woolen 12-J 

The Ball Room Guide 12£ 

Art of Good Behavior, and Letter Wri- 
ter on Love, Courtship, and Marriage. 12£ 

Letter Writing Simplified 12£ 

The World in a Pocket Book 50 

Whist players Hand Book 37 

The Chairman and Speaker's Guide 12£ 

Book of Chemical Amusements 25 

Art of Conversation 25 

Ball and Drawing Room Polka 12£ 

Winter Gift for Ladies — Knitting, Net- 
ting, &c 12£ 

Etiquette for Ladies 12J 

Count D'Orsay's Etiquette 25 

The Young Wife, a neat pocket Manual, 

with an illuminated title, fancy cloth. . . 50 

" gilt edges 62 

The Young Husband " fancy cloth... 50 

" gilt edges 62 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 9 



IMPORTANT STANDARD WORKS 

OF HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, BIOGRAPHY, VOYAGES & TRAVELS, AND BELLES LETTRES. 

The following works, mostly of recent publication, are among the most popular ever issued 
from the American Press, and are such as no well-selected library, public or private, should be 
without. 



Prescott's Conquest of Mexico, 3 vols.... 6 00 

»« Ferdinand and Isabella, 3 vols. 6 00 

Marshall's Life of Washington, 2 vols ... 4 50 

Sparks' Life of Franklin, 1 vol 4 50 

Thirlvvall's History of Greece, 2 vols 3 50 

Ingersol's History of the War of 1812. . . . 3 00 

Gibbon's Decline and Fall, 4 vols 5 00 

McCulloch's Geographical Dictionary.... 6 50 

Murray's Encyclopaedia of Geography ... 6 00 
Shakspeare's Works, London Edition, 1 

vol . 4 50 

Works of Josephus, 2 vols 3 00 

Oneota, by Schoolcraft 2 50 

Norman's Rambles in Yucatan 2 00 

Siborn's Waterloo Campaign 1 25 

Miscellanies of Macauly 2 00 

" Alison •.. 1 25 

" Sidney Smith 1 00 

Wilson 1 00 

«* Carlyle 1 75 

Talfourd and Stephen.. 1 00 

Jeffreys 1 50 

Dr. Durbin's Observations on the East.... 2 00 

Greenhow's Oregon and California 2 50 

Prescott's Miscellanies 2 00 

Froisart's Chronicles 2 80 

McGeoghegan's History of Ireland 2 00 

O'Halloran's " " 

Harris' Highlands of Ethiopia 1 25 

Jacob's Scenes in the Pacific 1 25 

Kendall's Life of Jackson . 5 00 

Brantz Mayer's Mexico 2 50 

Neal's History of the Puritans . 3 50 

Napefs Peninsular War, 4 vols 6 00 

* " 1 vol 3 00 

Noctes Ambrosianse.. 4 50 

Recreations of Christopher North 1 00 

Irving's Rocky Mountains 1 00 

Ranke's History of the Popes 2 00 

Stephen's Travels in Yucatan 5 00 

" Arabia Petra and Holy Land.. 5 00 

United States Exploring Expedition, 25 a 60 00 

Cheap Edition, 5 vols 10 00 

Bancroft's United States, 3 vols 6 00 

Cooper's Naval History 4 00 



Rollin's Ancient Histoiy 3 75 

Thiers' French Revolution, 5 00 a 3 00 

" " Cheap Edition 1 25 

" Napoleon, publishing in num- 
bers at..... 25 

Taylor's Manual of Ancient and Modern 

History 2 25 

Taylor's Natural History of Society 2 25 

Mills' Cruisades and Chivalry 2 00 ; 

Hailam's Middle Ages 2 00 

Kolrausch's Germany 1 50 

Irving's Works 6 00 

D'Israeli's Curiosities of Literature, with 

Griswold's American Additions 3 50 

Lives of the Queens of England, 7 vols... 4 00 

Wraxall's Posthumous Memoirs,-. -. 1 50' 

Lite and Speeches of Henry Clay 1 25 

Gregg's Commerce of the Prairies... 2 50 

Kendall's Santa Fee Expedition 2 50 

Howitt's Remarkable Places 1 50 

Batrd's Visit to Northern Europe 2 00 

Burnett's History of the Reformation 2 50 

Heroes and Hero Worship 1 00 

Cooley's American in Egypt 2 00 

Foster's Miscellaneous .v 1 25 

Life of Alexander Hamilton 5 00 

Olmstead's Incidents of a Whaling Voy- 
age 1 50 

Lardeche's Life of Napoleon 4 00 

" f cheap edition 2 00 

Southgate's Tour in Turkey and Persia.. 2 00 

Williams' Medical Biography 3 00 

Putnam's American Facts 2 00 

Armstrong's War of i812 1 50 

Greenhow's Northwest Coast 1 50 

Trumbull's Autobiography 1 50 

Around the World 1 50 

Channing's Works, 6 vols 6 00 

Farnham's Travels in California 1 50 

Jane Taylor's Complete Works 3 00 

D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation. 

* 1 00, 50 a 2 00 

Maunder's Treasury of History, an im- 
portant and useful work, in parts 25 

Brown's History of Illinois 2 00 



10 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



Calhoun's Life and Speeches 

Turner's History of the Anglo-Saxons... 

Twiss' Life of LordEldon 

Memoirs of Count Grammont 

Memoirs of Malibran 

Memoirs and Comic Miscellanies of 

James Smith 

Rottick's History of the World 

Lord Bacon's Works, 3 vols 

Lord Bolmgbroke's do 4 vols 

Carey's Choice Literature, 2 vols 

Dunlap's History of Fiction 

Kohl's Travels...... 

Benthamiana 



1 


00 


4 


50 


3 


50 


1 


25 


1 


00 


1 


50 


6 


00 


7 


50 


6 


00 


1 


75 


1 


7 5 


1 


25 


1 


00 



Lord Brougham's Sketches of Statesmen 

1st and 2d series 2 00 

3d series 65 

Life of Jefferson 3 00 

Lockhart's Scott 3 50 

Nieburh's Rome 5 00 

Rush's Residence at the Court of Lon- 
don 2 25 

Walpole's Letters 3 00 

Memoirs of Geo. Ill 4 00 

Moore's History of Ireland 2 00 

Waddy Thompson's Mexico 1 50 

Napoleon and his Marshals, Headly 2 50 

Argentine Republic 1 00 



SPLENDID PICTORIAL AH D I L LUST RAT ED WO R KS. 

1 oo 



25 



25 



Harpers Illuminated and Pictorial Fam- 
ily Bible, 25 cents a number, complete 13 50 ' 
do do in splendid binding 20 00 a 25 00 
Virtue's Devotional Family Bible with 

steel engravings, in parts, each 25 

Harpers Illustrated Shakspeare, in part3, 

each 

Harpers Illustrated Wandering Jew, with 
original French engravings, in parts... 
Harpers Pictorial History of England, in 

parts, each 

Frost's Pictorial Universal History, in 

parts, each 25 cts., complete 7 

" " History of the United 

States 

" " History of the U. States 

Army 

" " History of the U. States 
Navy i 



6 50 



1 25 



1 00 



Frost's Pictorial History of N. A. Indi- 
ans.. 



American Flora, or History of Plants and 
Wild Flowers in America, with beau- 
tiful colored plates, monthly parts, each 25 
Kirby and Spence's Entomology, plain 

and colored plates 3 00 

Mrs. Hall's Sketches of Irish Character, 

Morocco 4 50 

Pictorial Life of Washington 80 

f* " Napoleon : . 75 

Illustrated Christian Ballads 2 50 

Catlin's North American Indians 6 50 

Croton Aqueduct 3 50 

Illustrated Robinson Crusoe 1 75 

Illustrated Vicar of Wakefield 1 25 

Sears' Wonders of the World 2 50 

Penny Mag., in parts, each ... 25 



COLLECTIONS AND COMPLETE WORKS OF VARI- 
OUS AUTHORS. 



Addison's Complete Works, 3 vols 5 00 

Byron's Letters and Poems 3 50 

Poets and Poetry of America, Griswold. 3 00 

England, « 3 00 

Europe, Longfellow, 5 00 

Rogers' Poems, Illustrated 3 00 

Waverly Novels, Scott, complete in 5 

vols 5 00 

" " Paper, cheap edition. 2 50 

Charlotte Elizabeth's Works, 12 vols. ... 6 00 

Dickens' Complete Works, Illustrated ... 9 00 

Common.,.^. 2 50 

Campbell's Poems, complete 2 50 

Cooper's Sea Tales, 6 vols. ex. cloth 3 30 

Fielding's Select Works 1 20 

Irving's Works, 2 vols 5 00 



Scott's Poetical Works 2 00 a 4 00 

Mrs. Hemans' Works 2 50 

Burns' Works and Life 1 25 

Cowper's do 1 75 

Milton's do 1 25 

Southey's Complete Poetical Works 3 50 

DTsraeli's Novels, complete, 1 25 a 2 00 

Lord Bacon's Works 7 50 

Longfellow's Poems, Harpers... 50 

Miss Landon's Complete Works 2 00 

Moore's c f 2 00 

Mirror Library, Morris & Willis ......... 5 00 

Hannah Moore's Works 2 50 

Smollett's Works 1 50 

Jane Taylor's Complete Works 3 00 

Prose and Prose Writers of America 3 00 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



I) 



NOVELS, ROMANCES, AND MISCELLANEOUS CHEAP 

LITERATURE- 

The following list includes Harpers' Library of Select Novels) and Pocket Series ; Ferrett & 
Go's, publications ; Williams' publication of the works of Professor Ingraham, and others ; Zieber 
&, Co's Home and Traveller's Library, besides the works of the Standard Novelists, and other 
publications of the day. These works are mostly of the octavo size, and may all be sent by mail 
at a trifling expense of Postage. 



Pelham, by Bulwer 25 

The Disowned, do 25 

Devereux do 25 

Paul Clifford do 25 

Eugene Aram, do 25 

25 

25 



Last Days of Pompeii, do 

The Czarina, by Mrs. Hofland 

Rienzi, by Bulwer , 25 

Self Devotion, by Miss Campbell 25 

The Nabob at Home 25 

Earnest Maltravers, by Bulwer.. 25 

Alice, do 25 

Last of the Barons, do .' 25 

Forest Days, by G. P. R. James 12£ 

Adam Brown, by Horace Smith 12£ 

Pilgrims of the Rhine, by Bulwer 12| 

The. Home, by Miss Bremer i2| 

The Lost Ship, by Capt. Neale 25 

The False Heir, by G. P. R. James 12^ 

The Neighbors, by Miss Bremer 12^ 

Nina, do * 12-* 

President's Daughter do 12 \ 

The Banker's Wife, by Mrs. Gore 12£ 

The Birthright, do 12-J 

New Sketches : a Diary, by Bremer 12£ 

Arabella Stuart, by G. P, R. James....... 12| 

The Grumbler, by Miss Pickering 12£ 

The Unloved One, Mrs. Hofland 12-1 

Jack of the Mill, by W. .Howitt 12£ 

The Heretic, by Lajetchnikoff. 12§ 

The Jew, by Spindler 12^ 

Arthur, by Eugene Sue 25 

Ohatsworth, by Ward 12^- 

The Prairie Bird, by Murray 25 

Amy Herbert 12-1 

Rose d' Albert, by G. P. R. James 19J 2 

Triumphs of Time 25 



12i 

m 
m 

124 



The H Family, by Miss Bremer .. 

The Grandfather, by Miss Pickering .. 

Arrah Neil, by G. P. R. James 

The Jilt. 

Tales from the German 12^ 

Arthur Arundel, by Horace Smith 25 

Agincourt, by G. P. R. James 25 

The Regent's Daughter, by Dumas 25 

The Maid of Honor........ 25 



Safla, by De Beauvoir 12^ 

Look to the End, by Mrs. Ellis 12£ 

The Improvisatore, by Andersen 12§ 

The Gambler's Wife, by Mrs. Gray 25 

Veronica, by Zschohke 25 

Zoe, by Miss Jewsbury 25 

Wyoming 25 

De Rohan, by Eugene Sue 25 

Self .'; 25 

The Smuggler, by G. P. R. James 25 

Breach of Promise 25 

Parsonage of Mora, by Miss Bremer 12£ 

A Chance Medley, by Grattan 25 

The White Slave 25 

The Bosom Friend, by Mrs. Grey 25 

Amaury, by Dumas 25 

Author's Daughter, by Mrs. Howitt 12^ 

Only a Fiddler, by Andersen., 25 

The Whiteboy, by Mrs. S. C. Hall 25 

The Foster Brother, by Hunt 25 

Love and Mesmerism, by H. Smith 25 

Ascario, by Dumas 25 

The Lady of Milan . 25 

The Citizen of Prague 25 

The Royal Favorite, by Miss Gore 25 

The Queen of Denmark 25 

The Elves, Etc., by Carlyle 25 

The Stepmother, by James 25 

Jessie's Flirtations 25 

Chevalier d'Harmental, by Dumas 25 

Peers and Parvenus, by Mrs. Gore 25 

The Commander of Malta, Eugene Sue... 25 

The Female Minister 25 

Emilia Wyndham 25 

The Bush Ranger : 25 



Chronicles of Clovernook, Jerrold 

Confessions of the Pretty Woman, Miss 
Pardoe 

POCKET SERIES OP NOVELS. 

1. The Yemassee, by Simms 

2. Young Kate 

3. Tales of Glauber Spa.... 

4. Attila, by G. P. R. James 

5. Corse de Leon, do 

6. The Ancient Regime, do , 



25 



25 
25 

25. 
25 
25 
25 



12 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



7. The Man-at-arms do 

8. Charles Tyrrell, do 

9. Dutchman's Fireside, by Pauldin< 

10. Night and Morning, by Bulwer.. 

11. Westward Ho! by Paulding 

12. Evelina, by Miss Burney 

13. The Robber, by James 

14. Guy Rivers, by Simms 

15. The Young Duke, by D'Tsraeli .. 

16. Richelieu, by James 



ZIEBER & CO'S. HOME AND TRAVELER'S 
LIBRARY. 

No. 1. Texas and the Gulf of Mexico, or 
Yachting in the New World, by Mrs. 
Houston 25 

No. 2. The Englishwoman in Egypt, by 

Mrs. Poole 25 

No. 3. Nights of the Round Table, or 
Stories of Aunt Jane and her Friends, 
by the author of " Clan Albin" and 
" Elizabeth de Bruce." 25 

No. 4. Sketches of Imposture, Credulity, 
and Deception which have existed in 
the world 25 

No. 5. The Opium War ; being recol- 
lections of Service in China, by Capt. 
A. Cunynghame 25 

No. G. Impressions of Ireland and the 

Irish..... 25 

No. 7. The Eventful Life of a Soldier, by 

the late Joseph Donaldson 25 

No. 8. Dunn's History of the Oregon 

Territory ,. 25 

No. 9. Narrative of the Mutiny at Spit- 
head and the Nore 25 

Nos. 10 and 11. Physick and Physicians, 

an exceedingly interesting work 50 

Nos. 12 and 13. Memoirs of a Babylon- 
ian Princess 50 

No, 14. The Huzzar, by the author of 

the Subaltern 25 

ING-RAHAM'S NOVELS. 

Ellen Templeton 

Olph 

Belle of the Bowery 

Authur Denwood 

Lady of the Gulf. 

Julia Bicknell 

Leisler 

Forrestal, or the light of the Reef. 

Wedding Night 

Butchers of Ghent 

Flving Cloud 



Francis Carleton 25 

Montezuma 50 

Spanish Pirate 25 

Red Wing 

Berkley « 

Grace Weldon " 

Old Saint Paul . 50 

Life in London, Complete 75 

Morris Greame 12^ 

Dancing Feather " 

Cigar Girl " 

Mast Ship «j 

Beauty of Baltimore <c 

Henry Howard " 

Southern Belle " 

Paul Deverell " 

Gerald Gage " 

Cavalier..... " 

Edward Clavering " 

Mysteries of New- York '1 

Mary Wilber % 

Marion Raymond " 

Will Tirrell 

Black Ralph « 

Walton, or the Bandits Daughter " 

Norman or the Privateerman'sBride " 

Bertrand " 

Neal Nelson " 

Eastern Belle " 

Frank Rivers " 

Agnes Belmont " 

Gabriel Lambert " 

Dutchess' of Confession " 

Marie the Fugitive " 

Henrietta " 

Little Emma 

Nelly Brown " 

Baronet Daughter's " 

Harry Harefoot " 

Anne Melbourne " 

Corporal Wizard " 

Widow's Walk, or the Mystery of Crime, 

by Eugene Sue 25 

TEE WORKS OF J. FENIMORE COOPER. 

Afloat and Ashore, 4 vols 1 00 

Satanstoe ; or, the Littlepage Manu- 
scripts, 2 vols. ; The Chainbearer, 2 
vols ; Ellinor Wyllis, 2 vols ; Bravo, 2 
vols; Deerslayer, 2 vols; Homeward 
Bound, 2 vols ; Home as Found, 2 
vols ; Headsman, 2 vols ; Heiden- 
maner ; Last of the Mohicans, 2 vols ; 
Lionel Lincoln, 2 vols ; Mercedes of 
Castile, 2 vols ; Monikins, 2 vols ; Pi- 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S 



CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



13 



lot, 2 vols : Path-finder, 2 vols ; Pre- 
caution, 2 vols ; Pioneers, 2 vols ; Red 
Rover, 2 vols , Spy, 2 vols ; Two Ad- 
mirals, 2 vols ; Travelling Bachelor, 2 
vols ; Wyandotte, 2 vols ; Wept of 
Wish-ton- Wish, 2 vols ; Water Witch, 

2 vols, each work , 50 

Ned Myers, 1 vol 25 

SIR WALTER SCOTT. 

Ivanhoe, The Antiquary, Old Mortality, 
Bride of Lammermoor, Waverly, The 
Abbot, The Pirate, Peveril of the Peak, 
St. Ronan's Well, Woodstock, The 
Crusaders, Guy Mannermg, Rob Roy, 
Heart of Mid Lothian, Kenilworth, 
The Monastery, Legend of Montrose, 
Fortunes of Nigel, Quentin Durward, 
Red Gauntlet, Chronicles of the Ca- 
nongate, Fair Maid of Perth, each 50 a 25 

DICKENS. 

The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby Rudge, 
Nicholas Nickleby, Pickwick Papers, 

each .50 

Martin Chuzzlewit 25 a 50 

Sketches of Every-Day Life 37 

Count Ludwig, Grimaldi the Clown, Ol- 
iver Twist, each 25 

The Chimes, A Christmas Carol, each... 6 
Pictures from Italy 12^ 

CHARLES LEVER. 

Jack Hinton the Guardsman, Harry Lor- 

requer, each 50 

Tom Burke of Ours 25 a 50 

Charles O'Malley the Irish Dragoon 38 

The O'Donoghue 25 

Arthur O'Leary 12 

Saint Patrick's Eve 6 

SAMUEL LOVER. 

Handy Andy 50 

Barny O' Reirdon the Navigator, L. S. 
D., or Treasure Trove, Rory O'Moore, 
The Nevilles of Garretstown, in Nos.. 25 

SMOLLET. 

Peregrine Pickle 50 

Humphrey Clinker, Roderick Random, 
Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves, 
each 25 

FIELDING-. 
Tom Jones, or the History of a Found- 
ling 50 



Joseph Andrews, Amelia, The Life of 

Jonathan Wild, each 25 

BENJAMIN D'ISRAELI. 

Vivian Gray, Young Duke, Contarina 
Fleming, Venetia, Henrietta Temple, 
Wondrous Tale of Alroy, Coningsby, 
or the New Generation, Rise of Iskan- 
der, Five Nights of St. Albans, Sybil, 
or the Two Nations, each 25 

CAPT. MARRY AT. 

Poor Jack, The Pacho of Many Tales, 
The Pirate and Three Cutlers, Mid- 
shipman Easy, Snarleyow, or the Dog 
Fiend, The King's Own, Frank Mild- 
may, each 25 

Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Vi- 
olet, Log of a Privateersman, each 12 

Masterman Ready 75 

The Settlers in Canada 37^ 

Jacob Faithful, Japhet in Search of a 
Father, Newton Forster, Peter Simple, 
The Phantom Ship, each 25 

MISS PICKERING'S NOVELS. 
Nan Darrell ; or, the Gipsy Mother, The 
Secret Foe, Who shall be Heir? Ag- 
nes Serle, The Fright, The Expectant, 
The Prince and the Pedler, The Heir- 
ess, The Squire, The Merchant's 
Daughter, The Quiet Husband, Cous- 
in Hinton, each 25 

The Last of the Saxons, a Tale of the 

Times of William the Conqueror 25 

Wild Love, a Romance. By De Le 

Motte Fouque, Author of "Undine... 25 
The Robber of the Rhine, a Novel. By 

Leitch Ritchie 25 

Sketches of Naples. By Alexandre Du- 
mas 25 

Louisa Mildmay, a Novel. By the Au- 
thor of " Two Old Men's Tales,". 25 

The Mosaic Workers, a Tale of Venice, 

By George Sand 25 

Abelino, or the Bravo of Venice. By 

M. B. Lewis 25 

Marriage. By the Author of Destiny," 

the " Inheritance," &c 25 

The Lone Star, a Tale of Texas. By 

J. W. Dallam 25 

The Swedes in Prague, or The Signal 

Rocket. By Caroline Pichler 25 

The Heiress, a Novel. By T. S. Arthur. 25 



14 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



Jonce Smiley. By H. Hastings Weld... 25 

Paul Redding, a Tale of the Brandywine. 25 

Minstrel Love, a Romance. By Fouque. 25 
The Groves of Blarney. By Mrs. S. C. 

Hall 25 

Stories of Waterloo. By Maxwell 25 

The Charity Sister. By Mrs. Norton... 25 
Three Nights in a Lifetime. A Domestic 

Tale ' 25 

The Widow. By Theodore Hook 25 

David Dumps. By T. Haynes Bayly.... 25 

Snowdon. By Theodore Hook 25 

Joan, the Heroic Maiden. By Alexandre 

Dumas.. 25 

Claiborne the Rebel, a Tale of Maryland. 

By W. H. Carpenter 25 

Wild Sports of Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

By Napier 50 

The. Seige of Vienna. By Caroline 

Pichler 25 

Kruitzner, or the German's Tale 25 

The Dead Boxer. By William Carlton. 25 

Bianco Capello, Lady Bulwer 12^ 

Corinne, or Italy, Mad. de Stael 50 

Castle Dismal, Simms 25 

Hellen Halsey " 25 

Cecil, the Adventures of a Coxcomb 25 

Self, by the author of Cecil . , 25 

Ellen Woodville, or Life in the West .... 50 

Florence de Lacy 25 

Forest Life, Mary Clavers 50 

Frankenstien, Mrs. Shelley 25 

Flowers of Fable, 180 engravings 37^ 

Father Goriot, or Scenes in Paris 25 

Father Clement 25 

High Life in New-York, by Jona. Slick. 25 

Hoboken. T. S. Fay 50 

Kruitzner, the original of Byron's Wer- 
ner . 25 

Memoirs of Sylvio Pellico 25 

Past and Present, Carlyle 25 

Lady in Black, and Raffle for a wife, 

each 12^ 

The Warwick Woodlands, Herbert 25 

Corsicaa Brothers, French of Dumas 12^ 

Mysteries of London, from the French... 1 00 

Memoirs of Vidocq 50 

Wright's Recollections of Van Dieman's 

Land 25 

O'Connell's Ireland 25 

Persecutions of the Church of Rome 25 

Prince de Joinville on the French Navy. 12^ 

Mrs. Abel's Recollections of Napoleon.. 12£ 

Recollections of the U. S. Army 25 



Works of Swedenborgh, in numbers 12^ 

Prisoner's of Perote 37^ 

Philosophy of Evil 37£ 

Young Bride's Book 12^ 

One Hundred Things worth Knowing... 12^ 

American in Pans, 2 parts, each 25 

Borrows Gipsey'sin Spain 37J 

Bible in Spain 37£ 

Cowell's Thirty Years among the Play- 
ers 25, 

The Monk 25 

Mrs. Hugo Reid's Plea for Woman 25 

Park Godwin's Doctrines of Fourier 12£ 

New Spirit of the Age 25 

Correspondence of Burns and Clarinda... 50 

Chronicles of the Bastile 

Willis' Dashes at life, 4 parts, each 75 

Days of Queen Mary 25 

Fragments of Voyages and Travels, Ba- 
sil Hall 25 

Green on Gambling 50 

Evans' History of all Christian Sects .... 37 

Hoyle's Games 50 

Little Robinson of Paris, a tale for youth 37 
Life and Exploits of the Duke of Well- 
ington • 25 

Life of Washington 25 

Life of Jefferson 25- 

Life and Times of Louis Phillipe 25. 

History of the Inquisition 50 

Life of Lord Nelson 25, 

Life of Beau Brummell 25- 

Memoirs of the Literary Ladies of Eng- 
land 25 

Marston, or Memoirs of a Statesman.... 50 

Phelim O'Roork's Courtship, Carleton... 25 

Battle of the Factions, &c 25 

Phil Pureell 25 

Mexico, Texas, and California, by Thos. 

J. Farnham, just out 25 

Burne's Travels in Cabool , 25 

Celebrated Trials of all Countries 50 

Francesca Carrera 25 

Gilbert Gurney, illustrated 50 

George St. George Julian, Cockton 1 00 

Valentine Vox, illustrated 75 

Sylvester Sound 37^ 

The Love Match 50 

Heads of the People, 8 plates 25 

Pride and Prejudice, Miss Austin 25 

Romance and Reality 25 

Incognito 25 

The Lawyer ; 25 



H. LONG & BROTHER'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS. 



15 



Ten Thousand a Year 50 

Whispers to a Newly Married Pair 12^- 

Fremont's Exploring Expedition 25 

Hector O'Halloran 50 

The Palais Royal, by Mancur 51 

Mysteries of Berlin, 10 steel plates 75 

Irish State Trials 25 

The Smugglers, Mrs. Carlin 25 

Foster Brothers " 25 

Blanchard's Sketches 25 

Wilke's Oregon 25 

Mysteries of the Inquisition 1 00 

Mysteries of the Heaths 50 

St. Giles and St. James, Jerrold 50 

The Three Guardsmen, Dumas 50 

The Quaker City, or Monks of Monk 

Hall, by G. Lippard 1 00 

The Marquis de Letoriere, by Eugene 

Sue 1% 

The Rescued Nun 12£ 



Mabel the Actress 12£ 

The Story of Ninon De l'Enclos, with t her 
remarkable Letters on Love, Courtship 
and Marriage, with a beautiful portrait 25 



Lives of the Felons. — This extraordinary 
work is the first of a series of a standard Amer- 
ican Criminal Calendar, similar to the New- 
gate Calendar of England. It will comprise 
histories of all the renowned criminals of this 
country, and each number will be perfect in it- 
self. The First Number is beautifully illus- 
trated with superior and highly finished engra- 
vings, and is far superior in literary excellence 
and romantic interest to any portion of the cel- 
ebrated English work above alluded to. Most 
of the histories in the calendar will be drawn 
from the wonderful biographies published in the 
National Police Gazette. In parts, each 25 cts. 



H. LONG & BROTHER, have constantly on hand numerous books in addition to those 
mentioned in this Catalogue, and will promptly fill orders for any description of works published 
in the United States, or imported from abroad. They also solicit orders for 

Juvenile Books, ChiMrens' Primers, and Colored Toys ; 

Of these there are a great variety in the Market — the most beautiful illustrated works selling 
from 75 to 37J cents, and the cheaper ones at all prices. 

PLAYS AND DRAMATIC WORKS of every kind, generally at 12^ cents, but varying 
from 6i to 25 cents. 

Engravings, Lithographs, and Caricatures, 

Of all prices from 12£ cents upwards. Of these there is an immense variety, and they can be 
sold at a handsome discount to the trade. 

MAPS of every description, from Morse's, Tanner's, and Goodrich's Universal Atlases, to 
the cheapest State Pocket Maps. 

Some fifty varieties, from 50 cents to $2 50. 

Plate and Letter-press, and Musical Publications. Any music in the market will be forwarded by 
mail, to order, with promptitude and care. 

YALE IT HE S, 

Sentimental and Comic, of extraordinary beauty and immense variety, prices- from 6-£ cents to 
fifty dollars each. These may be sent by mail. The demand for Valentines is increasing 
yearly. 



H. LONG- & BROTHER 

ARE AGENTS FOR THE SALE, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL OF 5 
AND RECEIVE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR, THE FOLLOW- 
ING AMERICAN AND FOREIGN MAGAZINES 
AND PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS. 



AMERICAN MAGAZINES. 

Godey's Lady's Book, with monthly plates of 

fashions, single 25 cts., per annum. . 
Graham's Magazine, do do do 
New.York Illustrated Magazine, 
Columbian Magazine do do do 
Farmer's Library and Monthly Journal of Agri- 
do 



culture do 
Knickerbocker Magazine do single 50, 
Democratic Review do do 

The American Whig Review, do 
Southern Lit'ry Messenger do do 
Hunt's Merchant's Magazine do 
The Ladies' Nat. Magazine, single 18% 
Littell's Living Age, weekly, single 12)4 
The Christian Family Magazine, monthly, 



Boys' and Girls' Magazine, 
Merry's Museum, 
Sears' New Monthly Magazine, 
Brownson's Review, quarterly, 
Revue Frangaise, monthly, 
Protestant Quarterly Review, 
The Cultivator, . 



on 



MEDICAL PERIODICALS 

The London Lancet, per annum, 
The N. Y. Journal of Medicine, 
The Medico-Chirurgical Review, 



3 

3 OOiBraithwaite's Retrospect 



3 00 
3 00 

5 00 

6 00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 

6 00 
1 00 
1 00 

1 00 

2 00 

3 00 
3 00 
1 00 



Bell's Medical Journal, quarterly, 
The Medical Examiner, 
The American Journal of Medical Science, edited 

by Dr. Hays, 

FOREIGN MAGAZINES AND PAPERS 
Blackwood, monthly, single 25 cts., per annum 
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PACKING- ROOMS, No. 32 Ann-Street. 



GEORGE DEXTER, 

Would call the attention of Periodical and News Agents, to the following list of Weekly 
Newspapers, which he will furnish with despatch, at the lowest Publishers' prices. 

NEW-YORK: ( BOSTON: 

Old Countryman, Spirit of the Times, Uncle Sam, Pilot, 
Emporium, News, Yankee, Harbinger, 

Tribune, Mirror, Boston Notion, Weekly Bee, 

Island City, Knickerbocker. Flag of our Union, Monthly Omnibus. 



PHILADELPHIA : 

Courier, Neal's Gazette, 

Post, Dollar Newspaper. 



BALTIMORE : 
The Western Continent. 



Books, Magazines, andall the Cheap Publications of the day, at the lowest Publishers' 
prices, carefully packed andTbrwarded by G. D. 



•FAMES ACSEUIAN'S 

LITHOGRAPHIC ANO PRINT PUBLISHING ROOMS, 

32 Ann-Street, N. Y. 

Lithography in all its varieties executed at the shortest notice. 
Mr. A. intends publishing a series of American Subjects, which will be worthy the atten- 
tion of dealers in Prints ; also, a series of Caricatures which will be ready in a few weeks. 
Catlin's North American Indians, port folio, 25 plates, tinted, just published, price $15. 



C O N T E NTS. 



Preface 3 

CHAPTER 1— Physical Features. 
Sources of Information — Boundaries — Extent of Surface — Natural Divisions — The Eastern Region — Anahuac 
— Ascent to the Table-Lands— The Table-Lands — Mountains - 6—10 

CHAPTER II— Rivets— Lakes— Bays— Gulfs. 
Rio Grande del Norte— -Rio Sacramento— The Colorado— Rio Santiago — Rio Panuco— Lakes— Bas and 
Gulfs— Gulf of Mexico. - 10—12 

CHAPTER Ul— Civil Divisions— Towns, &rc. 
Yucatan— Tabasco— Chiapa— Oaxaca— -Vera Ciuz— Puebla — Tlascala— Mexico— The Federal District — The 
Valley of Mexico — Description of the City — The Halls of the Monte zumas — Queretaro — Guanaxuato 
Michoatan — Colima — Xalisco — Zacatecas— San Luis Potosi — Durango — New Leon — Tamaulipas — Coha- 
huila — Chihuahua — New Mexico Occidente ------ 12 — 24 

CHAPTER IV— Climate— Soil— Vegetable Productions— Animals. 
Climate — Soil and Vegetable Productions — The Banana — Indian Corn — Wheat — Potatoes — Other Vegetables 
— Sugar — Cotton — Coffee — Chocolate — Tobacco, &e. — Animals — Birds — Insects — Fisheries 24 — 28 

CHAPTER V — Agriculture — Manufactures — Commerce 
Agriculture — Mexican Plough — Manufactures — Statistics of Manufactures — Commerce — Commerce of the 
different Ports— Santa Fe Trade --------- 28—34 

CHAPTER VI— Mines and Minerals. 
Mines of Guanaxuato — Zacatecas — Catorce — Pachuca — Biscaina — Zimapan — Durango — Gold Mines — Infe- 
rior Minerals — Mining Companies — Method of working the Mines - - - - 34 — 40 

CHAPTER VII— Roads— Travelled Routes— Modes of Travelling. 
Vera Cruz to Mexico — Tampico to Mexico — Texas to Mexico — Independence, (Missouri), to Santa Fe — 
Acapulco to Mexico - 41 — 48 

CHAPTER V III — Inhabitants, Population, and Government of Mexico. 
Inhabitants — Population — Government - 49 — 53 

CHAPTER IX— The Army and JVavy. 
The Army— The Navy - 54—58 

CHAPTER X— Revenue— Resources— Expenditures— Public Debt 
Revenue — Resources — Expenses of the Government — Public Debt - 58 61 

CHAPTER XI— The Church— Its Wealth and Influence— State of Education. 
The Church — Its Wealth and Influence — State of Education .... 51 54 

NOTICES OF THE PRESS. 

This book is a perfect God-send to all those who wish to be considered persons of information at this moment. Without it, to find 
out anything about Mexico, you are obliged to wade through volumes of extraneous matter — here you have every thing condensed 
and classified, so that with very little labour one can readily find what one wants to know. — Courier and Enquirer. 

Mr. Farnham resided for several years in California, and afterwards made extensive tours through the interior of Mexico— visiting 
all its principal cities and public institutions, and the result of his observations, now offered to the public, is undoubtedly the most 
complete and authentic work on Mexico and Mexican institutions ever issued. — Tribune. 

The map which accompanies this work is richly worth what is asked for both. Until the explorations of Farnham, Fremont and 
others, very grave errors were to be found in all the maps relating to Mexico. In the one now before us all these errors are corrected, 
and it is undoubtedly the only authentic map of Mexico to be found. — Albany Evening Journal. 

Here is just what every one wants who reads the newspapers. Statistics, descriptions — notices of the public men, and above all a 
large and correct map, showing all the routes by which an invading army can enter Mexico, <fcc. Sec. — iV. Y. Herald. 

Mr. Farnham was just the man to prepare a work of this kind. It is evidently got up with great care and research, and is a work 
that will be considered authority, and should be preserved for future reference, for whatever may be the result of the unhappy war 
we are now waging with Mexico, there will always be an interest about that Republic which will render a book of this kind invalua- 
ble.— K Y. Sun. 

ftenco. SCHEDULE OF THE ROUTE FROM VERA CRUZ TO MEXICO. 



G H . 

(a) The Handle; (b) the beam to which 
the oxen are attached ; (c) pin by which 
the beam is attached to the yoke; (d) 
wedges, &c, by which the beam is elevated 
01 lowered, as occasion requires ; (e) the 
main-piece or sole ; (/) the shoe affixed to 
the main-piece — this is made of iron, and 
is the only part of the plough composed of 
that material ; (g) section of the sole. 

C : 

TS PEOPLE— 

TIONS: 

WITH 

A MAP 

CONTAINING 

THE RESULT OF THE LATEST EXPLORATIONS OF 
FREMONT, WILKES, AND OTHERS. 

THOMAS J. Y FARNHAM, 

Author of " Travels across the Great Western Prairies," " Travels in California," &c. &c. 

PRICE 25 CENTS. 




SA.NTA ANW A 



OCT 3 The Map which accompanies the work contains the entire region of Mexico, Texas, Cali- 
fornia, and the whole of Central America to the Isthmus of Panama, showing the line of the 
projected Canal across the Continent. In addition to a great variety of information to be found 
on 7io other map, it contains correct and minute outlines of the routes by which an invading army 
must enter Mexico. This is accompanied in the book itself with full particulars ( distances, 
obstructions, &c. 8fC.) respecting those routes. 
! DCT^* See contents on next page. 

[Extracts from the Preface.] 

" This book is intended to present a concise view of the Republic of Mexico, in its physical features and 
moral aspects. Its geography, its agriculture, its mines, its people, its government and church, and its des- 
tiny, are treated in a manner thought to be the most concise and intelligible. In doing this the author has 
consulted all the standard authorities on the subject, and selecting therefrom what he has deemed true, has 
pdded the same to the knowledge which he himself acquired during his travels in that country. He therefore 
Ventures to say that no other single work contains so full and so complete an account of Mexico as this. 
' " Of the Map accompanying the work, it should be said that readers may be assured of its general correct- 
ness. In regard to those portions of it which relate to the Californias, the author avers it to be the only one 
In existence which presents any thing like a full and accurate idea of the geography of those countries. The 
author's own explorations, together with those of the U S. Exploring Expedition under Captains Wilkes and 



MEXICAN PLOU 




MEII 

ITS GEOGBAPH ¥—1 

ITS INSTITU 



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